Municipal Museum of Santarem

Santarém, Portugal

The Municipal Museum of Santarém has been a secular institution since 1892. During the 1990s, the concept of the museum changed. Since then, three museums have been established at different locations and with specific purposes. The Municipal Museum is now a Multi-Core Museum.

The first nucleus is the Art and Archaeology Museum, located in S. João de Alporão Church (Church of St. John of Alporão). The Museum organises thematic and temporary exhibitions. The second centre is housed at Anselmo Braamcamp Freire’s House-Museum. Here there are paintings, sculpture and furniture; decorative art, in porcelain and earthenware, as well as an important library.

The Time’s Centre, is in one of the city’s ex-libris. Located in a peculiar tower, it is composed of a large collection of watches. From the top floor there is a wonderful view of the city.

Nowadays there is a new centre, the Urbi Scalabis Interpretation Centre located in the Portas de Sol Garden, where the history of Santarém’s evolution and development is explored.

All these centres combine traditional methods used for museum display with interactive equipment through which visitors learn, explore and enjoy the museum experience.

Regarding the Anselmo Braamcamp Freire House-Museum, located in the same building as the public library. Both of them came as result of the legacy left to the city by Anselmo Braamcamp Freire: the house, books, furniture and art collection. Braamcamp Freire was an early 20th-century politician and humanist. He had real concern for human rights and other cultural issues; a defender of free access to information and knowledge. This is the main reason he left his assets to the city. He believed that the whole population should have access, through a public library, to books and artworks. (Written by Helena Vicente)

Address(es)
Praça do Município
2005-245
T +351 243 304 200
F +351 243 304 244
geral@cm-santarem.pt

www.cm-santarem.pt | museu.cm-santarem.pt/

Municipal Museum of Santarém Coordinator
Luis Mata
T +351 243 377 293
direccao.museu@cm-santarem.pt

Library Coordinator
Luísa Cotrim
T +351 243 330 240
luisa.cotrim@cm-santarem.pt



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