Ílhavo Maritime Museum and Codfish Aquarium

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Aveiro > Ílhavo > Lagoa

Location

Located in the village of Ílhavo, a place where the presence of the sea and the fishing tradition are manifested at every corner, the Maritime Museum and the Codfish Aquarium are situated on one of the village's main arteries. This cultural space is deeply integrated into the urban dynamic of Ílhavo, offering direct access to the region's vast maritime legacy and the aquatic life that characterizes it.

The Maritime Heritage of Ílhavo

Founded in 1937, this museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the deep connection of the Ílhavo community to the sea. Its collections document the history of cod fishing, an activity central to the local identity, with artifacts illustrating the conditions and methods of these distant endeavors. In addition to ocean fishing, the museum explores the agro-maritime traditions of the Ria de Aveiro, presenting the diverse fishing methods characteristic of the lagoon.

The collection also includes a significant art collection, the largest shell collection in Portugal, and specimens of marine algae, elements that enrich the narrative about life and activities linked to the aquatic environment.

A Building of Singular Architecture

The building that has housed the museum since 1980 is an original creation by architect Samuel Quininha, which marked its time with its modern design. Over the years, the space has undergone renovations and expansions, notably in 2001 and 2013, through projects by the ARX Portugal office, by architects Nuno and José Mateus. These interventions have given the museum a remarkable modernity, characterized by the amplitude of its volumes, bold geometry, and the way natural light floods its rooms and corridors.

The architecture of the Ílhavo Maritime Museum is recognized nationally and internationally, having received several distinctions that highlight its value as an example of contemporary design, inviting a careful appreciation of its spaces.

A Dive into the Codfish Aquarium

One of the museum's main attractions is the Codfish Aquarium, inaugurated in 2013, which offers a unique perspective on these iconic fish. With an innovative design, the aquarium distinguishes itself by its descending spiral shape and the possibility of observation on a circular path, promoting increasing visual proximity to the animals.

Visitors can progressively get closer to the codfish, starting from a superior perspective and descending on a route that culminates in a large window, where the animals can be closely contemplated. This immersive experience and the uniqueness of its architecture earned the aquarium a special mention from the Portuguese Association of Museography.

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