Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Faro > Aljezur > Aljezur
The Municipal Museum of Aljezur is located in the town of the same name, on the northern edge of its historic centre. Situated in Largo Cinco de Outubro, it occupies a central position that allows visitors to easily explore the oldest area of the settlement.
Integrated into the natural and scenic context of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, the building shares the surrounding beauty of this coastal and rural region.
The museum is housed in a building with its own history. Built in the 19th century, this property originally had an administrative function, serving as the seat of the Paços do Concelho, the former Town Hall of Aljezur.
Its architecture is representative of the era, featuring a simple two-storey structure with a traditional roof. The facade is distinguished by white paint contrasted with blue accents, which highlight architectural elements such as the plinth, quoins, and mouldings.
One of the museum's exhibition areas offers an immersion into local archaeology. Here, remains are gathered that document a long history of human occupation in the region, with pieces dating back more than ten thousand years.
The archaeological collection covers different periods, from the Palaeolithic, with a focus on axes and slate plaques, through the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Bronze Age. The exhibition includes artefacts such as net weights, which demonstrate the exploitation of natural resources, and elements like a coat of arms stone from the Order of Santiago or the shaft of an old pillory, which reflect important moments in the town's history.
The museum's ethnographic core offers a glimpse into the daily life of the people of Aljezur between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The exhibition illustrates traditional activities, namely agriculture, livestock farming, and fishing, through a diverse collection of objects.
It is possible to observe various agricultural tools, which bear witness to practices in the field, from soil preparation to harvesting and transport. The museum also recreates traditional domestic environments, such as an Algarvian bedroom and kitchen, displaying utensils and pieces that were part of daily life, providing an authentic perspective on the rural way of life of yesteryear.
The museum dedicates a significant space to the Islamic heritage, recognizing its importance in the formation and culture of Aljezur. In this room, findings from archaeological excavations carried out in various locations within the municipality are presented, with particular relevance to the discoveries at the Sítio da Barrada.
The exhibition includes various ceramic pieces and other artefacts from the Islamic period, which help to contextualize and understand how they were used and their connection to different aspects of Muslim culture present in the region for centuries.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.3191517,-8.8033171
Coordinates DMS: 37°19'8.9"N 08°48'11.9"W
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