Old Bishop's Palace of Guarda and Seminary

Category: Religious Architecture > Palace

District: Guarda > Guarda > Guarda > Judiária

Location and History

, Located in the city of Guarda, the former Episcopal Palace and Seminary is now the Guarda Museum.

, Built in 1601 by D. Nuno de Noronha, the building features a U-shaped plan, with the church in the center.

, The complex reflects the Mannerist style of the 17th century, with later additions such as the 19th-century church.

Architecture and Features

, Structure organized into two square courtyards, forming a U with the central church.

, Main facade with three sections: the center is the church, flanked by lateral bodies with continuous eaves and gargoyles.

, Architectural elements include columns with Ionic capitals, straight arches, and perfect arches in the accesses to the courtyards.

Guarda Museum

, Founded in 1940 as the Guarda Regional Museum, it opened to the public in 1985 after renovation.

, Organized into four main sections: Prehistoric Archeology, Proto-historic and Roman Archeology, Medieval and Post-Medieval Archeology, and Sacred Art.

, Highlights include Bronze Age swords, a Hispanic annular fibula, and sacred art such as a polychrome granite sculpture from the 13th century.

Collection and Exhibitions

, Contains about 4800 pieces, with an emphasis on local and regional art.

, Chronological exhibitions span from Prehistory to contemporary times, including photography, ceramics, and traditional games.

, Recently, it added works by contemporary artists such as João Cutileiro and Júlio Pomar.

Visiting the Museum

, The museum itinerary provides a journey through regional history.

, Highlight for the ethnographic section, with artifacts of agricultural and pastoral life, weaving, basketry, and ceramics.

, The collection also includes a room dedicated to the Arsenal, with Portuguese military weapons and uniforms.

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