Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Lisboa > Azambuja > Azambuja
The museum is located in Páteo do Valverde, in the heart of the town of Azambuja, in a building integrated into an old agro-industrial complex. This central yet secluded location offers an environment conducive to a calm and attentive visit. The surroundings combine traditional architecture and open spaces, creating a setting that evokes the region's agricultural past.
With easy pedestrian access and situated in a community living area, the museum integrates well with the rhythm of the town's daily life, allowing visitors to immerse themselves naturally in local history.
The Sebastião Mateus Arenque Municipal Museum was born from the commitment of a local heritage collection commission, officially recognized in 1980. Composed of five members, including the self-taught ethnographer who lends it his name, this team dedicated itself to gathering objects, documents, and testimonies linked to the social and cultural history of the municipality of Azambuja.
The space opened to the public in 2004 with the permanent exhibition "Quotidianos: Recordar, Conhecer, Aprender" (Daily Life: Remembering, Knowing, Learning). Starting in 2019, a profound museographic renovation began, with the aim of making the museum more accessible and appealing, integrating new technologies, illustrations, and interactive supports. The official reopening took place in September 2022.
The exhibition is organized around the daily life of the people of Azambuja, with a special focus on the rural world, agricultural practices, and the ways of life associated with the Lezíria region. The collection includes utensils, household objects, clothing items, tools, and elements linked to old trades, presented in a clear and engaging manner.
One of the most unique elements is the old rice dryer, a rare piece in the national museological landscape. This equipment, in excellent state of conservation, is integrated into an interactive experience that allows for the simulation of the drying process, creating a sensory connection with the visitor.
The museum assumes a strong territorial vocation, promoting the identity of the people of Azambuja through the valorization of local heritage. The proposal "Recordar, Conhecer, Aprender" translates this mission: to awaken memories in the elderly, to introduce the local reality to outsiders, and to teach new generations about their land's past.
In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum organizes educational activities and guided tours, many of which take place outside its walls, in different locations within the municipality. This expanded approach allows for the reinforcement of knowledge about the territory and its cultural heritage in an accessible and inclusive way.
The space combines rustic elements, inherited from its industrial origins, with contemporary and carefully curated museography. The arrangement of content and the use of audiovisual resources invite an attentive and participatory visit. The diversity of media, from information panels to digital animations, provides a comprehensive interpretation, adapted to different ages and knowledge levels.
More than an exhibition space, the museum presents itself as a meeting place with collective memory, where each object or testimony contributes to telling the story of a community rooted in its territory.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.067959108416304,-8.874579423592488
Coordinates DMS: 39°04'4.7"N 08°52'28.5"W
Weather Azambuja
On-duty Pharmacy Azambuja
