Built in 1945, this big yellow Palladian villa was long the home of Fábio da Silva Prado, the patriarch of one of São Paulo's leading families. Inside, the museum displays an assortment of haute-bourgeois artifacts from the 17th to 19th centuries: ornate jacaranda-wood furniture, fancy porcelain, silver plates, the token oil painting by Portinari. If you've seen similar collections elsewhere -- like at Rio's Museu Chácara do Céu -- there's no need to come here. If you missed out, the standard collection is well displayed in this museum. Under a new curator, the museum has also begun hosting changing exhibits, many focused on modern Brazilian design, others on innovative themes such as the idea of the house in Brazilian history and imagination. Check the website for programming details. Tip: The best part of the museum may be the restaurant, the Quinta do Museu, housed in the mansion's kitchen. Seating is in the old dining room or on the back patio under the shade of a rubber tree. The menu includes light lunches, including grilled salmon, salads, and sandwiches, as well as a hearty afternoon tea (R$18-R$30/US$9-US$15/£5-£8). Better yet, there's a large lawn where kids can run around while adults dine in peace.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Brazil, 4th Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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