Aquilino Ribeiro House

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Viseu > Moimenta da Beira > Soutosa

Location

The Aquilino Ribeiro House is located in Soutosa, a tranquil village in the municipality of Moimenta da Beira. Situated on flat ground, the property harmonises with the surrounding rural landscape, characterised by a paved street to the north and two-storey buildings that define the neighbourhood. The boundaries of the house and its grounds are marked by a granite wall, providing a discreet and traditional setting.

The Writer's Legacy and His Home

This place holds deep cultural significance, being the house that belonged to Aquilino Ribeiro, one of the most prominent figures in Portuguese literature. The writer inherited the property in 1918 and, after returning from exile in 1930, carried out various expansion and improvement works. During these interventions, he enlarged divisions, opened windows, and built a balcony facing the courtyard, shaping the house to his taste and needs for the holiday periods he spent there.

A Space of Memory and Tradition

Currently, the Aquilino Ribeiro House functions as a vibrant museum space, preserving the memory of the writer and the rural daily life that so influenced his work. Entry into the house-museum is via a stone staircase, which leads to a spacious rectangular room on the ground floor. On the upper floor, three other rooms invite further exploration.

The inner courtyard, adorned with lime trees planted by Aquilino himself, offers a tranquil retreat. Sharing the same grounds, the "Casa do Aldeão" (Villager's House) complements the visit. In this two-storey building, visitors can find a collection of objects that belonged to the writer or that evoke the life of the period. The second floor recreates typical environments, such as a kitchen, a bedroom, and a weaving room, providing an immersion into the traditional Beira atmosphere. Adjacent, there is also a building that houses an exhibition and conference room and a library, enriching the visitor's cultural experience.

Beira Architecture and Heritage

The architecture of the Aquilino Ribeiro House reflects the popular and rural residential style of the Beira region. Composed of three rectangular bodies forming an "L" plan, the construction stands out for its horizontal volumes and tiled roofs with different slopes. The materials used, such as the granite walls and staircases, and the wooden floors and ceilings, are distinctive features of local architecture. Its historical and architectural value is underscored by its classification as a Public Interest Property.

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