Established in the former Santiago Fort (1603), this immense museum is well worth a visit. It kicks off with the history of the Amerindian peoples and their encounter with the Portuguese (engravings, crafts, arcs, masks). Next is the colonial period, charted through the lifestyle of the Europeans, the economy of the great coffee, sugar cane and mining fortunes, and as a counterpoint, slavery. Collections of sacred art, carriages and sedan chairs complete the visit.