Graciosa Island Museum of Rural Life

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Açores > Santa Cruz da Graciosa > São Mateus > Canada Longa

Location

The Rural Life Museum of Graciosa Island is located in the Canada Longa area, in the peaceful locality of São Mateus, within the municipality of Santa Cruz da Graciosa. This location provides a genuinely rural setting, in harmony with the museum's theme. Visitors will find the space nestled in a landscape that reflects the island's traditional way of life.

The Essence of Rural Life

This museum is dedicated to preserving and presenting the cultural legacy of rural life on Graciosa Island. Through the recreation of a domestic and agricultural environment, it seeks to illustrate the daily life of a modest peasant family. The focus is on the customs and practices that marked existence between the 1930s and 1970s, offering an authentic glimpse into the island's past.

The Spaces and Objects

The heart of the museum is an old family house, carefully renovated to reflect a rural dwelling of the era. As they walk through it, visitors discover the different rooms, such as the kitchen, living room, master bedroom, and a space for the younger ones, all enriched with original or period-representative furniture and tools. A traditional alpendre (porch/lean-to) complements the main house.

Additionally, a palheiro, a typical structure of Azorean rural architecture, has been transformed into a versatile space, suitable for hosting thematic exhibitions or other cultural events, enriching the visitor's experience.

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