Abreu Callado Foundation

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Portalegre > Avis > Avis

Location

The Abreu Callado Foundation is located in Benavila, a village in the municipality of Avis. Its environment is deeply marked by the Alentejo landscape, stretching across vast fields and benefiting from its proximity to the banks of the Maranhão Dam. This natural setting contributes to a particular microclimate in the area, integrating the site into a typical rural scenario of the region.

History and Family Legacy

The Abreu Callado Foundation was established in 1948 by the will of Cosme de Campos Callado, the last direct descendant of the prominent Abreu Callado family. Its primary purpose was to preserve the legacy of the agricultural estate established by his father, Francisco de Abreu Callado. The family's history intertwines with the evolution of agriculture in the Avis region itself, consolidating a secular presence linked to the land. Its members distinguished themselves not only by managing vast properties but also by their active role in the social and local life of the municipality, through community support initiatives.

Architectural Complex and Production

The Foundation's headquarters are housed in a stately building of Alentejo rustic style, whose main chimney bears the date 1758, a testament to the property's antiquity and continuity. This complex includes various infrastructures related to traditional and modern agricultural activity. Its vineyards, spanning 42 hectares, include vines over fifty years old still in production. The winery, a central element, combines current winemaking techniques with historical methods, such as the use of traditional presses and cement vats dating from 1956.

The Rural Museum

In an old barn, the Foundation developed a museum space dedicated to local culture and agricultural heritage. This Rural Museum houses a collection of pieces that illustrate ancient agricultural practices, as well as traditional bread and wine making processes, allowing visitors to understand the evolution of techniques and life in the Alentejo countryside. Additionally, there is an olive oil mill nearly a century old, which still operates with sisal mats, and a space for the aging of bottled wines.

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