MAH - Museum of Angra do Heroísmo

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Açores > Angra do Heroísmo > Angra do Heroísmo > Angra (Nossa Senhora da Conceição)

Location

The Museum of Angra do Heroísmo is located in the heart of the city, on Terceira Island, integrated into its historic center. Its location facilitates access and integration with the urban environment of Angra do Heroísmo, allowing visitors to absorb the atmosphere of the World Heritage city.

The main building of the museum occupies the space of the old Convent of São Francisco, a historic structure that defines much of the local architectural landscape and is a landmark in the area.

The Building and the Historical Legacy

The experience of visiting the Museum of Angra do Heroísmo begins with its own architecture, as it is housed in the imposing structures of the old Convent of São Francisco. This building, dating from the 17th century, invites exploration of its spaces, including its cloister.

Attached to the main building, the Church of Nossa Senhora da Guia, also from the 17th century and Mannerist in style, is an integral part of the visit. Inside, particular attention should be paid to an 18th-century gilded altarpiece, a Portuguese organ from the late 18th century attributed to Machado Cerveira, and tile panels depicting scenes from the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. The site also has a more remote past: it was here, in a previous 15th-century building, that historical figures such as Paulo da Gama, Vasco da Gama's brother, and João Vaz Corte-Real found burial.

The Collection and the Azorean Journey

The museum offers a comprehensive perspective on the history and culture of the Azores. It is conceived as a space for synthesis, where one can understand how the archipelago's strategic position in the Atlantic shaped its identity and island life. Its collection is vast and quite diverse, addressing regional history and its connections with the rest of the world.

Among the various collections are pieces of ethnography, armory and military history from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as examples of painting, sculpture, furniture, and ceramics. The museum also houses a significant collection of sacred art, which includes imagery and liturgical vestments, and a collection dedicated to the Angra artist António Dacosta, providing a journey through contemporary art. The museum presents its important collections in modern facilities, designed for a good visitor experience.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt