Archaeological Museum of Citânia de Sanfins

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Porto > Paços de Ferreira > Sanfins de Ferreira > Rua do Museu Arqueológico

Location:

The Archaeological Museum of Citânia de Sanfins is located in the town of Sanfins de Ferreira, in the municipality of Paços de Ferreira. The building housing the museum is an 18th-century historical construction, formerly known as Casa da Igreja (Church House) or Solar dos Brandões (Brandões Manor House). Its position in the Rua do Museu Arqueológico (Archaeological Museum Street) area, close to the Citânia archaeological site, integrates it into the local landscape and facilitates access for visitors to the ancient hillfort settlement.

The House and Its History:

Housed in a remarkable 18th-century building, this museum was born from the need to preserve and present the region's archaeological findings. Although founded in 1974, it opened its doors to the public a decade later, under municipal management. The choice of this historic manor house to host the museum gives it a unique atmosphere, uniting period architecture with the narrative of the peoples who inhabited these lands long ago.

Testimonies from the Distant Past:

Inside the museum, visitors will discover a collection that tells the long history of human presence in the territory that today corresponds to the municipality of Paços de Ferreira. The collection includes artifacts gathered from the excavations of Citânia de Sanfins, as well as other archaeological materials found in the area. These vestiges allow visitors to trace a vast period, from the first Neolithic communities to the occupation of the Castro culture period, offering insight into the daily life, beliefs, and social organization of these ancient peoples.

The Warrior Figure:

Among the various pieces on display, one of the most captivating elements is the sculpture of a Castro warrior. This stone-carved figure is an important testament to the culture and practices of the community that inhabited Citânia. It is believed that these sculptures, often depicted in a vigilant pose or with symbols of power, played a protective role for the settlement, symbolizing the group's strength and defense.

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