Natural History Museum of Sintra

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Lisboa > Sintra > Sintra > Quinta do Castanheiro

Location

Located in the Quinta do Castanheiro area, this museum is situated in the heart of the historic town of Sintra. Its location is characteristic of the central streets of the town, inviting visitors to explore the surrounding heritage on foot.

The Origin of the Collection

The foundation of this museum lies in the vast collection gathered over more than five decades by collector Miguel Barbosa and his wife. Their generous donation to the Municipality of Sintra allowed this valuable scientific heritage to be preserved and made available to the public, now forming the central core of the exhibitions.

The Scientific Collection

The museum houses a remarkable collection of over 10,000 pieces of great scientific importance and beauty. The main collections cover Paleontology (fossils), Mineralogy (minerals), Malacology (shells), and Petrography (rocks). Visitors can observe Trilobite fossils, rare Dinosaur specimens, including the world's only complete fossil of the flying dinosaur Braseodactylus sp. (originating from Brazil), and minerals of great beauty. The Petrography collection includes rocks from various parts of the world and even meteorites, such as the famous Nantan Meteorite, whose fall in China has been documented since the 16th century.

A Modern Look at Earth

Inaugurated in 2009, the Sintra Natural History Museum stands out for its modern and dynamic presentation. The exhibition space was designed to be immersive, utilizing contemporary furniture and technology to guide the visitor. The narrative journey focuses on the history of Earth and the evolution of life over millions of years, from the most remote geological epochs to the present. The exhibited pieces, originating from all continents, lend the museum a universal character.

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