Figueira da Foz Municipal Museum
Mission
In addition to its mission of collecting, conserving, protecting, researching, interpreting, and disseminating material and immaterial evidence, bequeathed by ancestors or representative of more recent identities, with archaeological, ethnographic, artistic, or any other heritage value considered relevant, the Municipal Museum also has the mission of establishing dialogues and experiences that support, challenge, and stimulate its audiences in the formation of knowledge, framed in various historical and cultural contexts, strengthening relations with the community in which it operates and serving society in general.
Founded in 1894 by António dos Santos Rocha (1853-1910) from Figueira da Foz with the aim of housing the valuable collection he had gathered since 1886 in various archaeological campaigns in the Serra da Boa Viagem, the Municipal Museum was temporarily housed in the Casa do Paço, where it remained until 1899, when it was transferred to the Figueira da Foz Town Hall building.
Until 1910, the year of Santos Rocha's death, the museum was archaeological and ethnographic. The wide recognition it achieved was due to the dedication of its founder and the work carried out by the Figueira Archaeological Society, which brought together the most distinguished minds from Figueira, Portugal, and abroad who were interested in anthropological sciences.
In 1939, under the direction of António Vitor Guerra and with the constant support of the newly formed “Grupo dos Amigos” (Friends Group), the range of disciplines covered by the collections was expanded, incorporating important legacies and deposits that allowed for the formation of artistic sections that had not existed until then, namely painting and sculpture.
Despite the obvious lack of space, the museum remained in the Town Hall building, being transferred in 1945 from the main floor to the upper floor.
In 1966, with the technical and financial support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, work began on the construction of an ambitious cultural complex, simultaneously a museum, library, and auditorium. The building was inaugurated in 1974 and the first room of the permanent exhibition opened in 1979.
On the occasion of its 100th anniversary celebrations in 1994, the museum received the “Best Museum” award from the Portuguese Association of Museology.
Now in the 21st century, the Santos Rocha Municipal Museum is deepening its relationship with the territory through thematic centers dedicated to the sea and salt and has established itself as a privileged space for the production and dissemination of knowledge, as well as a benchmark for quality and dynamism in the cultural life of the municipality and the region.
There are several permanent collections that can be visited at the Santos Rocha Municipal Museum. Most of them go beyond the municipal territory and historical heritage, such as the Numismatic, Armory, Epigraphy, Indo-Portuguese Furniture collections, and the Tavira Tapestry, a unique piece from the 18th century, of a secular nature, from a French artisan factory located in Tavira.
This museum space is also a local and national center open to research. It offers researchers and students access to a vast collection of works mainly related to art history, archaeology, and museology. It also has a significant collection of bibliography on local history and the history of the Municipal Museum.
Consisting of a reading/consultation room and a reserve space, it does not offer a loan service, but consultation and reading can be carried out in person from Monday to Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
In addition to the permanent collections, visitors can enjoy temporary exhibitions, which are open to the public throughout the year in two rooms with free admission.
Visitable reserves
Collections that are not on display can now be viewed in the reserve, by appointment, every Friday and on the first Saturday of each month, always at 2:30 p.m. You can see collections of weapons, furniture, and ethnography from Africa, Brazil, and the East: China, Japan, India...
The collection is housed in antique display cases, which gives a very evocative impression of what the Municipal Museum would have been like when it was founded in the late 19th century.
Source: CMFF