Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Setúbal > Alcácer do Sal > Alcácer do Sal
Situated in the historic town of Alcácer do Sal, the Pedro Nunes Museum is housed within the former Church of the Holy Spirit. Its strategic position, in the heart of the town and close to the banks of the Sado River, offers a setting that reflects the river's importance in local history and culture. The surroundings are distinguished by a tranquil atmosphere, allowing visitors to appreciate the uniqueness of the town.
The origins of the Pedro Nunes Museum date back to 1894, the year of its foundation, establishing it as one of the oldest museums in Portugal. Its initial collection resulted from the union of archaeological artifacts from the Alcácer do Sal Municipal Council and generous donations from private individuals. Over the years, this collection has been enriched, with particular emphasis on important discoveries from the Iron Age, such as those from the necropolis of Olival do Senhor dos Mártires.
Since 1914, the museum has been located in the Church of the Holy Spirit, a building that itself boasts over five hundred years of history. Recent renovation works have allowed for the preservation and visibility of the underlying archaeological structures, discovered during excavations. These revelations, properly musealized, showcase the layers of occupation that preceded the church itself, revealing the historical depth of the site through the ages.
The collections of the Pedro Nunes Museum offer a journey through approximately 2700 years of human history in Alcácer do Sal. The Sado River emerges as the common thread in this narrative, symbolizing the region's connection to the Mediterranean and Atlantic cultures that, over the centuries, influenced and shaped the local communities. Inside, one can admire some of the country's most notable archaeological pieces, each telling its own story and transporting the observer to different eras and ways of life.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.3709872,-8.5130038
Coordinates DMS: 38°22'15.6"N 08°30'46.8"W