Admiral Ramalho Ortigão Maritime Museum

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Faro > Faro > Faro > Sé e São Pedro

Location:

The museum is located in the city of Faro, in the municipality of the same name, situated in the area of Sé and São Pedro. It is housed in the building of the Faro Port Authority. Its position, next to the marina and port area, offers a natural context for the maritime theme it addresses.

Origins and Journey:

This museum has a history dating back to 1889, the year of its official creation. Its genesis resulted from the union of the collection of the former Industrial Maritime Museum with the private collection of António Artur Baldaque da Silva, a Navy officer, which was subsequently acquired by the State. The organization and installation of the museum in its current building, where it has been located since 1962, is largely due to the contribution of Commander Ramalho Ortigão. It is recognized as the oldest museum in the Algarve region and, over time, it occupied different spaces, with its transfer to Lisbon even having been considered at another time.

Maritime and Fishing Collection:

The museum exhibits a collection dedicated to maritime activity and traditional Algarvian fishing. Its ethnographic collection comprises a diversity of pieces that document the local community's connection to the sea throughout history. It includes models of ships and other vessels, as well as gear and tools used in fishing. The collection also covers instruments and onboard material, offering an overview of the know-how and maritime technology of bygone eras.

Organization of Space:

A visit to the museum is made through three exhibition halls, each named in homage to figures who were relevant to its establishment: the Baldaque da Silva hall, the Lyster Franco hall, and the Manuel Bívar hall. This division allows for the structured exploration of different aspects of the collection, providing an organized view of the maritime and fishing heritage.

Testimony to Algarvian Tradition:

The pieces exhibited in the museum serve as a testament to the strong maritime and fishing tradition of the Algarve. By presenting everything from models of fishing gear to navigation instruments, the museum helps to illustrate the life and work of generations dedicated to the sea and the Ria Formosa. It represents a link to the region's cultural identity and its historical dependence on marine resources.

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