Abade de Baçal Museum

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Bragança > Bragança > Bragança > Sé, Santa Maria e Meixedo

Location

The Abade de Baçal Museum is situated in the historical area of Bragança, in the parish of Sé, Santa Maria and Meixedo. It is housed in a building with a long history, the former Episcopal Palace, which marked the religious and social life of the city for centuries. Its central position allows for an immersion into the urban atmosphere of the locality.

This historical site, classified as a Property of Public Interest, occupies a significant space in the urban fabric of Bragança, serving as a landmark due to its size and its past connection to the diocese. The building also includes a large garden that invites relaxation and enjoyment of the green space.

The Historic Building

The history of the building that hosts the museum dates back to the 16th century, beginning as "Casas da Mitra" (Mitre Houses). It gained greater prominence between 1764 and 1776, when the diocesan seat was transferred to Bragança, subsequently becoming the official residence of the bishops. This episcopal past gives the building a unique identity.

Adapted over time for its museum function, the former Episcopal Palace maintains the dignity of its original design. The chapel of the old Palace itself is part of the exhibition itinerary, testifying to the importance of the site in the history of the Diocese of Bragança-Miranda.

A Journey Through Regional History

The exhibition itinerary of the Abade de Baçal Museum, spread across several rooms, offers a rich overview of the history, culture, and art of Northeast Trás-os-Montes. It is a space that allows visitors to understand the identity of this region through the objects and narratives it presents.

The collections are varied, ranging from the earliest times of human occupation in the area, with sections dedicated to pre-Roman and Roman archaeology, to testimonies of more recent life. The museography seeks to guide the visitor on a progressive discovery of this territory.

Featured Collections

The museum's collection is multifaceted. It includes archaeological pieces that reveal the presence of ancient communities, such as stelae, ceramics, and adornments. Ethnography is present, with a highlight on the mask collection, a central element of the traditional Transmontano festive cycle.

In the art sections, the museum possesses a significant collection of paintings, which includes works by important Portuguese artists such as Silva Porto, Marques de Oliveira, José Malhoa, Aurélia de Souza, and Veloso Salgado. It also features a collection by Abel Salazar and original illustrations by Almada Negreiros.

Other relevant sections include pieces of sacred art from the former Episcopal Palace, a collection of 18th and 19th-century civil silverware, furniture (such as a 17th-century Indo-Portuguese cabinet), Portuguese faience, and numismatic collections, which help tell the economic and social history of the region.

Memory and Legacy

The museum pays tribute to personalities who were crucial to its creation and enrichment. The name, Abade de Baçal Museum, recognizes the contribution of Father Francisco Manuel Alves, a scholar who directed the museum and boosted its collections. Raúl Teixeira, who succeeded him, also played a fundamental role in revitalizing and expanding the collection.

It is a space that preserves the patrimonial and artistic memory of the former Diocese of Bragança-Miranda, gathering assets that reflect its history and the life of the communities of Northeast Trás-os-Montes throughout the centuries.

The Palace Garden

Associated with the museum building is a vast garden spanning approximately four thousand square meters. This green space was formerly the episcopal palace grounds, having undergone different configurations over time.

Its current appearance is the result of a landscape architecture intervention. The garden is an invitation to relaxation, featuring elements of interest such as a boxwood spiral culminating in a small water mirror and a sundial, combining formalism with an artistic and playful touch.

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