Ethnographic Museum of Murtosa

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Aveiro > Murtosa > Arrotas

Location

The Murtosa Ethnographic Museum is located in Arrotas, an integral part of the municipality of Murtosa, in the district of Aveiro. Its building is situated in Praceta Dr. Araújo e Castro, in an area that makes up the urbanization known as Canto da Pocinha.

This location benefits from an inviting positioning, with the square that hosts the museum presenting an organized environment with civic significance, complemented by a frontal avenue lined with green areas and a monument, creating a harmonious setting for your visit.

The Building: An Emblematic History

The property that today houses the Murtosa Ethnographic Museum possesses, in itself, a remarkable journey in local history. Erected in the 1930s, it stood out as the first building constructed from scratch in the municipality with the purpose of serving the community, hosting various public services since its inception. Its initial design included spaces for the theater, the fire department, the scouts' headquarters, and several schools, evidencing its multifunctional vocation.

This diversity of functions over time, which also included schools and preparatory cycles, conferred upon it the status of one of the most emblematic properties in the region, being widely known by the population as the "Scouts' House". Its architecture, notable for its T-shaped plan and two-story facades with rhythmically receding volumes, demonstrates a fusion of modernist and contemporary 20th-century styles, and its importance is now recognized as a Monument of Municipal Interest.

The Collection: Lives of the Marinhoa People

Inside the Ethnographic Museum, visitors are invited to explore a vast collection of artifacts that narrate the lives of the people of Murtosa, the so-called "marinhoa" people. This collection, consisting mainly of pieces generously donated by individuals, authentically illustrates the main economic activities that, over the centuries, shaped the identity of the municipality: agriculture and fishing.

It is possible to observe a diversity of objects in wood, metal, ceramics, and textiles, which bear witness to the crafts and daily tasks. One of the central points of the exhibition is the section dedicated to maritime activity, where the devices used in fishing and the harvesting of seaweed in the Ria de Aveiro are highlighted, as well as references to the characteristic moliceiro boats. The museum also presents a reconstruction of domestic environments, with furniture and decorative objects that evoke the daily life and bourgeois lifestyle of the early 20th century in the region, providing an immersion into the cultural roots of Murtosa.

Guardian of Collective Memory

The Murtosa Ethnographic Museum functions as a true guardian of the collective memory and identity of the people of Murtosa. Through the display of utensils, clothing, photographs, and other elements of its collection, the museum offers a journey through time, allowing for an understanding of the customs and traditions that defined local life.

The richness of the exhibited pieces, in their simplicity and authenticity, reveals the ingenuity and resilience of a community that has always lived in close relation with the land and the Ria de Aveiro. A visit to this space provides a deep immersion into the cultural legacy of Murtosa, celebrating the wisdom and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation, and underscores the importance of preserving this unique heritage.

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