FundaçãoOswaldoCruz

The Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) is the most important science and health technology institution in Latin America. Housed in one of Rio de Janeiro's most iconic architectural complexes, the foundation is a leading institution in biomedical research in the country, uniting a past of public health struggles with a present of innovation and advocacy for the Unified Health System (SUS).

Image description: This is an old black-and-white photograph of a rural area. On the left, there is a simple structure with a sloped roof. In the center, there is a larger building with a tiled roof, where several people are gathered out front. On the right, there is another building with a flat roof and large windows. In the background, there are trees and a hill.

The main campus of Fiocruz is located in Manguinhos, in the Zona Norte of Rio. At the end of the 19th century, the region was an area of mangroves and farms on the shore of Guanabara Bay. In 1900, the old Fazenda de Manguinhos was chosen to house the Federal Serotherapy Institute, with the initial goal of producing serums and vaccines against bubonic plague.

The great symbol of the site is the Castelo Mourisco, designed by Portuguese architect Luiz Moraes Júnior under the guidance of Oswaldo Cruz himself. Built in an eclectic style with a strong neo-Moorish influence, the castle rises atop a hill, dominating the landscape of Avenida Brasil. It was conceived to be a "palace of science," symbolizing the modernity and scientific progress that Brazil sought in the early 20th century.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a group of people posing together. The image shows ten individuals standing, with some wearing suits and others wearing white coats. They are arranged in two rows, with the members of the front row closest to the camera and those in the back row behind. The background features an architectural structure with decorated windows.

Appointed director of the institute in 1902, the young bacteriologist Oswaldo Cruz led historic campaigns to eradicate yellow fever and smallpox, even facing the violent Vaccine Revolt in 1904. His successor, Carlos Chagas, established the institute as a center of world excellence by discovering the complete cycle of the disease that now bears his name.

Image description: This is a historic black-and-white photograph of an architectural complex located in a green area. On the left side, we see a building with a sloped roof and evenly spaced windows. In the center, there is a road leading to the main structure, a palace with towers and domes, featuring a neo-Mughal style. On the right, there is a small white house with a red roof. In the background, we see a landscape with mountains and dense vegetation.

Over more than 120 years, Fiocruz has survived dark moments, such as the "Massacre de Manguinhos" during the military dictatorship — when brilliant scientists had their rights stripped away —, and celebrated monumental achievements, such as the isolation of the HIV virus for the first time in Latin America in 1980.

Today, Fiocruz goes far beyond vaccine production (such as those for COVID-19 and Yellow Fever). It is a hub of education with 32 graduate programs, where the Museu da Vida offers a fun and educational experience, bringing science closer to society and the surrounding communities, reaffirming that health is everyone's right.

Useful Information

Address: Avenida Brasil, 4365 – Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro – RJ (Easy access via Linha Amarela and Linha Vermelha).

Official Website: fiocruz.br and museudavida.fiocruz.br

Opening Hours: Campus and Museu da Vida Visits: Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm. Saturdays, 10am to 4pm. Please note: Some areas, such as the interior of the Castelo Mourisco, have limited visiting hours and may require prior booking.

Access Conditions: Admission: Free.

Accessibility: The campus has the "Trenzinho da Ciência" (Science Train), which makes it easier to get around between the pavilions and the museum. The main building (Castelo) has an elevator, but since it is a listed historic building, some areas may have restrictions.

Security: As this is a national security area with sensitive research, visitors must show identification at the main entrance.