Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Santarém > Golegã > Golegã > Casal das Flores
Located in Casal das Flores, a small village that is part of the town of Golegã, in the heart of the Santarém district, this house-museum is situated in a region characterized by the flatness of the Ribatejo floodplains and a strong connection to equestrian culture. Its discreet position in the landscape reflects the rural and tranquil environment that characterized the life of the rural nobility and landowners of the 19th century. The surroundings offer a perspective on the harmony between architecture and the rural setting of Golegã.
The building housing the museum was the residence and workplace of Carlos Relvas (1838-1894), a prominent and multifaceted figure in 19th-century Portugal. Recognized as one of the great names in photography in Portugal, Relvas was a true pioneer in photographic art and technique, exploring new approaches and technologies for his time. The house-museum preserves the memory of this innovator, offering a window into his life and extraordinary contribution to national photography.
The Carlos Relvas House-Studio is a remarkable example of civil architecture designed with a highly specialized purpose. The building was meticulously planned to serve the demands of 19th-century photography, with a particular emphasis on capturing natural light. It stands out for its structure, which includes elements such as a glass ceiling and large openings, designed to optimize lighting and enable the creation of large-format images, a specialty of Relvas. This innovative design illustrates the ahead-of-his-time vision of an artist who deeply understood the science behind his art.
The museum space invites visitors to an immersion into the universe of Carlos Relvas. Through the exhibition of personal objects, period furniture, and, naturally, a significant collection of photographic equipment and original images, it is possible to understand the scope of his work and the context in which it was created. The visit allows one to grasp not only the evolution of photographic technique but also the spirit of an era in which art and science intertwined in the pursuit of new forms of expression and recording reality.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casa-Estúdio_Carlos_Relvas
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.4021372,-8.488604
Coordinates DMS: 39°24'7.7"N 08°29'19.0"W
Weather Golegã
On-duty Pharmacy Golegã
