Cardina Museum

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Madeira > Porto Santo > Vila Baleira > Camacha

Location:

The Cardina Museum is located in the Camacha area, a place on the island of Porto Santo, near Vila Baleira. Its location outside the more bustling center contributes to an atmosphere that, in a way, reflects the theme it addresses, the island's rural and traditional life.

Situated in an area that still preserves characteristics of Porto Santo's landscape, the museum is set in a context that allows visitors to perceive the environment in which the activities depicted inside developed.

Accounts of Daily Life:

This museum space offers a perspective on the history of Porto Santo, focusing on the daily lives of its people since ancient times. It presents a collection of pieces that illustrate the customs and activities that shaped the daily routine of the island's population.

It is possible to observe artifacts related to domestic chores, agriculture, fishing, and other trades that were essential on the island in the past. The collection showcases the tools and utensils that were part of daily life, portraying a way of life that no longer exists today.

Objects and Memories:

The Cardina Museum exhibition is composed of a variety of objects that served life in Porto Santo in other times. There is a collection of original pieces that were used in the homes and daily work of the island, offering a direct glimpse into the past.

Complementing these authentic pieces, there are also recreations and models that help visualize some aspects. One can see miniature models of ancient tools and fountains that marked the island's landscape and life, carefully crafted to preserve their memory and detail.

A Passion for History:

The creation of this museum is due to the personal initiative and dedication of José Cardina, a native of Porto Santo. Driven by the concern that the island's traditional way of life might fall into oblivion with the passage of time and the abandonment of old practices, he decided to act to safeguard this heritage.

His passion led him to collect and restore numerous artifacts that were part of the daily lives of Porto Santo residents. The objective was to preserve and show future generations, and those who visit the island, how people lived and worked in a not-so-distant past, often marked by hardship.

Tribute to the Windmills:

The building housing the Cardina Museum has a distinctive shape. Its octagonal structure is not accidental but a direct tribute to the history and landscape of Porto Santo.

This architecture refers to the ancient windmills that once dotted the island, essential for flour production. The building was designed to replicate, in real size, the silhouette of these traditional windmills, serving as a visual symbol of local tradition and ingenuity in the rural context.

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