Is a trip to the Algarve in the near future or in the summer on the cards? Despite being associated with golden beaches, wonderful weather and tasty cuisine, the Algarve possesses a rich past which make up fascinating history. Villanovo has selected 5 of the Alargarve’s most interesting museums to visit with friends or with family to discover another side of this precious region.
Located in Faro, this regional ethnographic museum which opened its doors in 1965 thanks to painter Carlos Filipe Porfirio is the ideal place to enrich one’s knowledge about the anthropology of the Algarve, in particular the social and cultural aspects. The museum primarily consists of photographs from the first half of the 20th century as well as traditional objects such as costumes, domestic objects, fishing and farming instruments in order to reflect the Algarve from the past.
It is open throughout the entire year from Tuesday to Friday, from 10 am to 6 pm and from 10 am to 4:30 pm on saturdays.
Address: Praça da Liberdade 2, Faro, Portugal
2. Municipal Museum of Faro
Located in the heart of Faro, this museum used to be in a former gorgeous convent ‘Santo Antonia dos Capuchos’, until 1969 where it was moved to its current site. The Municipal Museum of Faro is the second oldest museum in the Algarve and opened in 1894 as a tribute to Henry the Navigator, past hero of Sagres . This museum exhibits archeological artifacts from a prehistoric period to current times, covering all of the Algarve’s major eras such as the roman and medieval periods. In 2003/05, the museum was given the prize of best Portuguese museum. The entrance is free on Sundays and costs 2 euros on all other days.
The opening hours vary depending on the season. In winter, it is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm and until 5 pm on weekends. In the Summer, it is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 7 pm and from 11:30 to 6 pm on weekends.
Address: Praça Dom Afonso III 14, Faro, Portugal
3. Museu de Portimão
Portimao’s museum which opened its doors in 2008 and is located in an old canning factory represents Portugal’s significant maritime and fishing past.It focuses specifically on how this industry’s history has affected and influenced Portimao and has for goal to educate its visitors on the social and economic has affected this harbour town. There are two sorts of exhibitions open to visitors, one permanent one which covers the city’s maritime past from thousands of years to present time as well as other various temporary exhibitions which will please all ages!
Museu de Portimao is open to the public on Tuesdays from 2:30 pm to 6 pm and from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6pm. The opening hours in August differ: On Tuesdays from 7:30 pm to 11pm on and from Wednesday to Sunday, 3 pm to 11:00 pm.
Address: Rua D, Carlos I, Zona Ribeirinha, Portimão, Portugal
4. Cerro de Vila
For ancient history lovers, Villanovo recommends a day trip to Carro Da Vila, which can be described as a sort of open-air museum with an indoor museum as well. Located in Loulé a municipality in the district of Faro, Cerro de Vila provides the opportunity to its visitors to walk through an area of Roman ruins, specifically an ancient Roman building. The perk of being in open air is that visitors can enjoy the delightful Algarve weather as well as visiting, and it is appropriate for children who enjoy running around in fresh air.
Cerro de Vila is open to the public during the week from 9:30 am tà 12:30 pm and then from 2pm to 6 pm.
Address: Avenida Cerro da Vila, Quarteira, Loulé, Portugal
5. Portuguese Discoveries Wax Museum
This Museum, which is situated in the marina of Lagos and eoepend in 2014 making it one of the region’s youngest museums, is suitable for children as it entertains as well as being educational. This wax museum represents the significant role which Portugal played during Europe’s Age of Discoveries by exhibiting life-size wax figures of important ‘age of discoveries’ portuguese whose achievements are explained in both in Portuguese and English. This unique museum displays 16 historical scenes, all represented by their wax figures for the public’s pleasure to read and interpret.
It is open during the week from 10 am to 6 pm.
Address: Urbanização Marina da Lagos - Edifício Astrolábio, Lagos, 8600-302,Portugal
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