Machico Museological Nucleus

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Madeira > Machico > Machico > Pontinha

Location:

The Machico Museum Centre is located in the heart of the town, in the Pontinha area. Its central position allows visitors to easily integrate the discovery of this space into the exploration of Machico's urban fabric, offering an accessible perspective on the region's past.

Solar do Ribeirinho: History and Architecture

This museum space is housed in the historic Solar do Ribeirinho, a 17th-century building that in itself tells an important part of Machico's history. Its restoration has preserved a collection of relevant architectural remains, which are now part of the visitor experience.

Excavations at the site have revealed fascinating elements of its original structure, such as a stable floor and a cylindrical cistern-well, approximately six and a half meters deep. A complex hydraulic network was also discovered, suggesting the solar's connection to the ancient sugarcane cultivation in the surrounding area.

A Journey Through Machico's History

Inside the museum, visitors embark on a journey spanning almost six centuries of Machico's history. The permanent exhibition is organized into thematic nuclei, revealing the figures and events that have shaped the city from its beginnings in the 15th century to the 20th century.

The collection of the Museum Centre encompasses a diversity of objects, from the enigmatic Cruz de Machim and a portrait of the first Captain Donatary, Tristão Vaz Teixeira, to pieces of high artistic value such as an 18th-century processional cross or a rare 16th-century seal in ivory and silver. Archaeological objects in ceramics, stone, and metal are also found, as well as an inscription with a quatrain by the local poet Francisco Álvares de Nóbrega, known as "Little Camões".

The Interactive Experience of Knowledge

The Machico Museum Centre distinguishes itself by its approach to historical knowledge. The exhibition integrates modern educational resources and interactive technologies, making the discovery of Machico's past a more engaging and accessible experience.

This technological dimension allows for a deeper understanding of historical and cultural contexts, inviting visitors to actively participate in their own learning about the rich heritage of the municipality.

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