Interpretive Center of the Rural World

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Évora > Arraiolos > Vimieiro

Location

The Rural World Interpretive Centre is located in the village of Vimieiro, set within a context that combines history and community. The original building, an old olive oil mill, is situated adjacent to the garden of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Vimieiro, a space once part of the Palace of the Counts of Vimieiro. This location offers an interesting perspective on village life.

The Memory of the Alentejo Countryside

This centre is a project dedicated to preserving and sharing the memory of the rural Alentejo world. Its focus is particularly on the period between the late 19th century, marked by transformations such as the disentailment law of common lands, and the mid-20th century, with the arrival of mechanization in agriculture. This was a time of great challenges, of arduous work for most people, but also rich in traditions and customs that shaped local life.

Daily Life and Knowledge

Through its collections, the Centre seeks to illustrate the daily life of Alentejo rural communities during the period it covers. The main exhibition represents the essential agricultural cycles and other fundamental activities of country life. One can observe how tasks were divided throughout the year and how traditional festivals and pilgrimages were experienced. The collection, much of it donated by the population itself, includes farm implements, equipment, and utensils that bear witness to the hard toil, uses, and customs associated with that era.

Architecture: A Meeting of Past and Present

The building housing the Interpretive Centre is, in itself, an element to discover. It is the result of the recovery of an old olive oil mill, known as Lagar dos Queirogas, which was carefully restored and adapted to house the permanent exhibition. To this historic building, a new construction has been added, housing the reception areas and other spaces. The architectural project sought to harmoniously combine the original structure of the mill with a contemporary language.

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