Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Beja > Mértola > Santana de Cambas
The Smuggling Museum is located in Santana de Cambas, a parish in the municipality of Mértola, Alentejo. This locality, situated right on the border with Spain and close to the Guadiana river, has a geography that historically favoured and shaped smuggling activities. The village offers a genuine and tranquil setting, allowing for an immersion into the past of this border region.
This museum space is housed in a building with a remarkable and somewhat ironic past. It was once a customs guard post, the government entity whose mission was precisely to combat and suppress smuggling. Thus, the place that once sought to prevent this clandestine practice is now the guardian of its memories, offering a unique perspective on this historical reality.
The museum is dedicated to exploring the history of smuggling that profoundly marked the life of these border communities, especially in the first half of the 20th century. Far from being a violent act, it was often a survival trade, driven by necessity and the struggle against poverty. Through the exhibition, one understands how common goods, such as coffee, tobacco, denim jeans, or even animals, were clandestinely transported between Portugal and Spain. The museum highlights that many of the people involved were simple porters, rather than criminal figures, living in a parallel reality of clandestinity.
The museum's collection consists of a variety of images, objects, and, significantly, oral accounts. It is these voices that bring to life the experience of former smugglers, detailing the arduous routines and the dangers faced. The testimonies reveal long nocturnal walks, often without provisions and under adverse weather conditions, such as intense cold or floods that forced them to cross streams by swimming or or using ropes. These narratives transport the visitor to the harsh and challenging reality of those who were forced to resort to smuggling to subsist.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.6236466,-7.5267506
Coordinates DMS: 37°37'25.1"N 07°31'36.3"W
Weather Santana de Cambas
On-duty Pharmacy Santana de Cambas
