Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Vila Real > Vila Real > Vila Real > Vila Velha
The Vila Velha Museum is located in the historic area known as "Vila Velha", in the city of Vila Real. This site is of particular importance as it marks the place where the city of Vila Real originated. The building is strategically positioned on a natural promontory, flanked by the Corgo and Cabril rivers, offering a unique perspective of the surrounding landscape. Its location also provides a glimpse of the historic São Dinis cemetery, establishing a visual connection with the locality's oldest heritage.
Inaugurated in 2008, the museum was established as an interpretation centre for the archaeological findings discovered in the Vila Velha area. Its main purpose is to unveil the long history of Vila Real, from its most remote roots to the present day. It is a space designed to narrate the city's evolution through time, revealing the layers of civilization that have shaped the region.
Inside the Vila Velha Museum, visitors can embark on a journey through Vila Real's past. The collection includes a wide range of objects, from Bronze Age artifacts to more contemporary pieces, all bearing witness to the various periods of human occupation. The exhibitions focus on archaeological campaigns, presenting not only ancient findings such as ceramic fragments and coins, but also interpretations that help understand local history. The "Vila Velha, New Memories" exhibition guides visitors through visual and audiovisual narratives, designed for a broad audience.
The Vila Velha Museum building is a work by architect António Belém Lima, notable for its modern and imposing architecture. The project was designed to dialogue with its surroundings, mimicking the granite escarpments that characterize the confluence of the rivers. Seen from the exterior, the museum appears as a compact structure integrated into the landscape. Inside, the space's conception evokes a sense of lightness, almost as if it levitates over nature and ancient ruins, creating a bridge between the past and the present.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.2928658,-7.7460964
Coordinates DMS: 41°17'34.3"N 07°44'45.9"W
Weather Vila Real
On-duty Pharmacy Vila Real
