Flour Museum

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Setúbal > Santiago do Cacém > Santiago do Cacém > São Domingos

Location

The Flour Museum is located in São Domingos, a village in the municipality of Santiago do Cacém, set within the distinctive landscape of the Alentejo Litoral. This rural setting provides an authentic environment where the region's agricultural history is clearly manifest in the museum's surroundings.

The Historic Mill

This museum is the result of the restoration of an old grain mill, once owned by the Mateus Vilhena family. The building, constructed in 1925, operated continuously for almost six decades, ceasing its activity in 1984. Its careful rehabilitation, completed in 2014, allowed for the creation of a space dedicated to the memory and know-how associated with flour production.

Inside, visitors will find the mill's original set of machinery, much of it made of wood. It can be observed how a diesel engine powered the entire system through transmission belts, which connected four horizontal shafts with drums of different sizes, essential for the milling process. This valuable collection is in good condition, allowing for a clear understanding of its operation.

A Recognized Legacy

The Flour Museum represents a significant element of the region's rural and industrial heritage. Its value is publicly recognized, having been classified as a Monument of Municipal Interest. Additionally, the Portuguese Association of Museology distinguished this space with the "Visitável Collection" award, highlighting the quality and relevance of its collection.

The existence of this museum is a testament to the importance of preserving and transmitting to future generations the history and knowledge linked to ancestral activities. It shows how cultural heritage can be dynamic, establishing a healthy connection between the past and the present for social and cultural development.

The Flour and Bread Cycle

The museum's exhibition path is dedicated to exploring the vast bread cycle, from the seed in the field to the final product that reaches the table. Visitors have the opportunity to understand the various phases of this traditional process, which begins with the reception of grains, once deposited in the granary adjacent to the mill, and continues with their transformation.

This focus on the complete process allows for an immersion in the culture and traditions that shaped the life of local communities. The museum contributes to safeguarding memories, crafts, customs, and stories related to bread production, a fundamental food in the Alentejo diet and cultural identity.

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