Nativity Scene Museological Nucleus

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Açores > Lagoa > Lagoa > Santa Cruz

Location

Located in the Santa Cruz urbanization, in the town of Lagoa, on the island of São Miguel, Azores, the Nativity Scene Museum is housed within the Convent of Santo António. This historic building offers a serene and easily accessible setting within Lagoa's urban fabric, inviting cultural discovery and a moment of tranquility.

A Living Tradition

The Nativity Scene Museum is a space dedicated to celebrating and understanding the art of the nativity scene. Here, visitors discover the profound connection of this representation of the Nativity to the culture and identity of Lagoa. More than a mere display of figures, the museum explores the evolution and meaning of this tradition, especially in the context of the unique local bonecreira art, which has become a distinctive mark of the region.

Journey and Historical Context

Across two exhibition rooms, the museum guides visitors through a historical contextualization of the nativity scene, with a particular focus on the period beginning in 1862, the date of the opening of the first ceramic factory in the municipality. The intrinsic relationship between the production of nativity figures and the regionalist movement is highlighted, revealing how artists and intellectuals contributed to its evolution. Pieces of various styles and eras, including traditional platform nativity scenes and delicate lapinhas, are presented in boxes and display domes, allowing for appreciation of the details of the local art. A complementary documentary, exhibited on site, deepens knowledge about this activity through the testimonies of specialists and creators.

Lagoa's Bonecreira Art

Bonecreira art, distinctive to Lagoa, is the heart of the Nativity Scene Museum. This type of craftsmanship, which models and brings to life the figures of the Nativity, is valued here not only for its aesthetic aspect but also for its role in safeguarding ancestral know-how. The space includes an area illustrating the creative process and the continuity of this art. It is a tribute to the artists who, over generations, have kept alive this cultural expression, so particular to the region, giving it its own recognizable identity.

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