Category: Culture and Entertainment > Museum
District: Castelo Branco > Covilhã > Covilhã
The Covilhã Museum is located in the city centre of Covilhã, in the municipality of the same name, within the urban fabric and housed in a striking historic building. Its central location provides a setting for discovering the history and local identity of the area through a space dedicated to the collective memory of the region and its people.
The building stands out for its façade decorated with blue and white tile panels depicting aspects of overseas trade and the Portuguese Age of Discoveries. This decorative feature gives the property a distinctive architectural character and is one of the museum’s most notable visual elements.
The building was designed by architect Ernesto Korrodi and housed the Banco Nacional Ultramarino between the 1920s and the 1980s. Its former role as a bank is part of the building’s history, which later took on a cultural purpose dedicated to the evolution of Covilhã. The restoration and adaptation of the property preserved its architectural identity while giving it a new role in promoting local heritage.
The ornate façade and the interior layout across several floors connect the building’s history with the narrative presented in its exhibitions. The architecture is therefore an integral part of the visitor experience, offering an example of urban heritage adapted for contemporary cultural use.
The exhibition follows the development of Covilhã from Prehistory to the present day, with displays arranged across different floors in chronological order. The collection explores the first inhabitants and the Roman period, the Middle Ages, the Modern Era and the transformations the city underwent during the Contemporary Period.
Throughout the visit, visitors can gain a better understanding of the local community’s origins, social and economic changes, and the importance of industrial activity in shaping Covilhã’s identity. The exhibits also explain how the city has evolved over time, connecting its past with present challenges and future prospects.
The museum presents information through explanatory texts, images, objects, audiovisual materials and interactive features that make the content easier to understand. The exhibition route encourages visitors to explore local history progressively, with information presented clearly and adapted to different audiences.
Accessibility is a central feature of the museum. The building has a lift, an access ramp, tactile paving, Braille texts and tactile materials that allow visitors to explore selected exhibits through touch. Multimedia resources, marked routes and rest areas are also available, helping visitors with reduced mobility or visual impairments enjoy the museum.
The lower floor hosts temporary exhibitions and cultural events and may include contemporary artworks. This element complements the historical narrative and broadens the museum’s cultural approach, creating a connection between the region’s heritage and contemporary artistic expression.
By bringing together history, architectural heritage and accessible exhibition design, the Covilhã Museum offers a comprehensive overview of the city’s development and its communities. It is a space dedicated to preserving local memory and understanding the transformations that have shaped Covilhã’s identity.
Coordinates DD: 40.27983698415508, -7.504011825529572
Coordinates DMS: 40°16'47.4"N 07°30'14.4"W
Weather Covilhã
On-duty Pharmacy Covilhã
