Archaeological Museum of São Miguel de Odrinhas

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Museum

District: Lisboa > Sintra > Barreira

Location

The Archaeological Museum of São Miguel de Odrinhas is located in the town of Barreira, within the municipality of Sintra. It is situated in a rural area, far from the urban hustle and bustle, providing a tranquil environment to explore vestiges of ancient civilizations. Its unique location, in Odrinhas, allows for the discovery of a piece of Portuguese history in a serene setting, connected with the natural landscape and historical traditions of the Sintra region.

The Origins of the Collection

The history of this museum dates back to the 16th century, when scholars of the time, such as Francisco d'Ollanda, began to assemble a significant collection of Roman inscriptions discovered in the fields and villages surrounding the local hermitage. This initial effort marked the beginning of a notable collection. Later, in the mid-20th century, the Sintra Municipal Council gave new impetus to the project, constructing a structure to house these important monuments and proceeding with the excavation and valorization of the adjacent Roman ruins, thus establishing the foundations of the current museum.

The Epigraphic and Archaeological Legacy

The museum's collection is vast and diverse, highlighted by one of the most important lapidary collections in the Iberian Peninsula, comprising over four hundred pieces. Known as "The Stone Book", this epigraphic section spans over two millennia of history, from the Etruscan era to the Modern Age, with particular emphasis on a remarkable collection of Roman tombstones. In parallel, the archaeological section displays thousands of artifacts, including ceramics, stone tools, metal objects, coins, and bone pieces, originating from various excavations in the municipality of Sintra, covering periods from the Middle Paleolithic to the 18th century, nicknamed "The Cloister of Time", offering a glimpse into the daily lives of the past.

The Memory of the Site

Beyond the collections exhibited in the building, the Archaeological Museum of São Miguel de Odrinhas is intrinsically linked to the site where it is located. It is possible to observe the ruins of an ancient Roman villa, dating back to the 1st century BC, and the remains of a later structure, possibly a temple or mausoleum, from the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. In the same location, the church of São Miguel and a medieval necropolis are found, used between the 12th and 16th centuries, with graves that remain in good state of conservation. This ensemble provides an immersive experience, revealing the diverse historical layers that marked the occupation of this territory over the millennia.

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