Rural Museum of Vila Franca do Campo

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Açores > Vila Franca do Campo > Vila Franca do Campo > Bairro do Carneiro

Location

The museum is located in the Bairro do Carneiro area, in Vila Franca do Campo. It is integrated into the town's urban fabric, allowing visitors to explore a bit of the surrounding area while making their way to the site.

Local Roots and Memory

This space is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the traditions and way of life of those who inhabited and shaped Vila Franca do Campo over the centuries. Through its collections, it seeks to reflect the experiences that define the culture of this community, from the most remote times to a more recent past.

Ethnographic Collections

The visit allows observation of various aspects of local identity. The museum brings together testimonies of rural and fishing life, including the historic Loiça da Vila (Vila Pottery), the art of crafting the Viola da Terra (Island Guitar), and examples of trades that marked the island's economy and daily life. There is also space for popular religion and devotion, archaeological finds that tell the ancient history of the settlement, and the architecture associated with the prosperous "Orange Cycle."

Historic Spaces

The visiting experience extends beyond a single central building. The museum integrates various historic spaces in the town and surroundings, such as old potteries where typical pottery was produced, traditional ovens, and even structures linked to hydraulic mills that were important for the island's development. These nuclei allow for a more comprehensive understanding of economic and social activities that shaped the region.

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