Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Lisboa > Vila Franca de Xira > Alverca do Ribatejo
The Alverca Museum Centre is located in Praça João Mantas. This historic site corresponds to the village's old village square, dating back to the 16th century. In front of the buildings housing the museum, stands the Manueline-style pillory, a classified monument that is part of the local identity and whose surrounding area was subject to requalification as part of the museum's programs.
The museum space is housed in two buildings: the old Alverca Town Hall (Casa da Câmara) and a more recent construction that was annexed after expansion works. The Casa da Câmara is an original 18th-century building that has been carefully restored. The adjacent building, also dating from the 18th century, previously served various functions, including being a beam press with a cellar and, later, a farrier's workshop. During its renovation, it was decided to preserve the press spindle hole as a way to keep alive the memory of the activities that took place there.
The collection of the Alverca Museum Centre gathers objects and documents in the areas of ethnography, documentation, archaeology, and photography. A significant part of the ethnographic and photographic collections was formed by collecting from the village's own population. This particularity reflects the community's active role in preserving its history and memory. The museum, with its holdings, seeks to showcase the development of Alverca over time, the daily lives of its inhabitants, and the traditions that shaped its identity.
In its exhibition rooms, the museum presents different displays. There is a long-term exhibition dedicated to MAGUE, an important metalworking company that marked the history and growth of Alverca and the municipality of Vila Franca de Xira, evoking the memory of the work and the people who contributed there. Additionally, exhibitions exploring other aspects of local life are presented, such as the exhibition "Alverca em Festa", which through photographs, documents, and objects, recalls religious and popular celebrations that are an integral part of the village's culture and identity, even if some no longer take place.
With the aim of being an inclusive space for all visitors, the Alverca Museum Centre offers various accessibility infrastructures. These include ramps and elevators to facilitate movement between different floors, tactile paving, accessible signage, and adapted restrooms.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.8993182,-9.0383874
Coordinates DMS: 38°53'57.5"N 09°02'18.2"W
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