Monsignor Manuel Francisco Pardal Museum of Sacred Art

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Faro > Aljezur > Aljezur > Centro Histórico

Location

The Monsenhor Manuel Francisco Pardal Museum of Sacred Art is located in the heart of Aljezur's Historic Centre. It is housed in a building adjacent to the Church of Misericórdia, set in a traditional urban environment, surrounded by houses with typical regional characteristics. Its location allows visitors to explore this historic area of the village on foot.

A Building with History

This museum space has the particularity of occupying the former premises of the Aljezur Misericórdia Hospital. This building dates back to the 18th century and, over time, served different functions, including that of a nursing home before being adapted to house the sacred art collection, having been inaugurated as a museum in the year 2000.

The Religious Collection

The museum houses a collection of pieces related to religious themes. Its collection is formed by elements from the local Santa Casa da Misericórdia, the Parish of Nossa Senhora da Alva, and other pieces resulting from donations and acquisitions over time. The collection offers an overview of art and devotion in the region.

Collection Highlights

Among the various objects on display, some pieces particularly stand out. It is possible to observe an ivory image of Christ, which exhibits characteristics of the Indo-Portuguese style, a result of cultural interaction between Portugal and India. Other notable pieces include an image of Our Lady of Solitude and a painting representing the figure of Moses.

Thematic Organization

The exhibition within the museum is carefully organized. The different pieces and objects are presented in accordance with the various phases of the Liturgical Year of the Catholic Church. This arrangement allows visitors to understand the relationship of the pieces with the festive cycles and important moments of the religious calendar, such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost.

In Memory of Monsenhor Manuel Francisco Pardal

The museum is dedicated to the memory of Monsenhor Manuel Francisco Pardal, a relevant figure in the Aljezur community and in the hierarchy of the Catholic church. In recognition of his importance, part of the exhibition includes personal objects and other elements related to his life, offering a closer perspective on this local personality.

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