Casa-Museu Guerra Junqueiro
The Casa-Museu Guerra Junqueiro is somewhat of a hidden gem among Porto's museums, tucked away, as it is, on a side street, behind Porto's impressive cathedral (Sé).
The Casa-Museu Guerra Junqueiro is the former 18th century residence of the politician, poet and author Guerra Junqueiro (1850-1923). Guerra Junqueiro's poetic works include Finis Patriae (1890) and Os Simples (1892).
History
The Baroque house was built in 1730 possibly by Nicolau Nasoni (1691-1773), the prolific Italian architect responsible for many of Porto's most famous historic buildings including the Misericordia Church, the Igreja dos Clérigos (Clérigos Church), the Torre dos Clérigos, and the the loggia (external gallery) of Porto Cathedral.
The building was originally the home of the canon of Porto Cathedral before it was acquired by Guerra Junqueiro. The house includes a mezzanine floor with a balcony forming a sort of loggia overlooking an atrium with two windows.
Exhibits
The Casa-Museu Guerra Junqueiro displays the personal collection of Guerra Junqueiro (1850-1923), an administrator, artist, journalist and poet.
A law graduate from the University of Coimbra, Guerra Junqueiro was an influential figure in the run up to the Portuguese Revolution of 1910, which his writings helped to inspire by criticizing the Church and conservatism in Portugal.
The museum's many exhibits include furniture, Flemish tapestries, ceramics, glassware, silverware and religious art mainly from the 15th-19th centuries.
The collection of silverware is particularly extensive and impressive. The Brotherhood of Silversmiths (Brotherhood of St. Elói) was established in Portugal at the end of the 15th century and this body regulated Portuguese silverwork resulting in a high standard of production.
Silver pieces were stamped by silver assayers to confirm the quality and karat of each piece.
The furniture in the collection includes both domestic and exquisite foreign pieces from areas of earlier Portuguese influence overseas in Macau and Japan.
The house and its contents where donated to the city of Porto by Junqueiro's daughter in 1940.
The museum has been renovated at the cost of 234,000 Euros and reopened in 2017. The Casa-Museu Guerra Junqueiro also hosts temporary exhibitions such as one on the paintings, writings and illustrations of Raul Brandão that marked the reopening.
Outside in the courtyard there is a small, secluded cafe/restaurant overlooking the garden with a bronze statue of Guerra Junqueiro by Leopoldo de Almeida.
Inside the museum there is also a small shop.
Access
Casa-Museu Guerra Junqueiro
Rua D. Hugo, 32
4050-305 Porto
Tel: 22 200 3689
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm-5 pm; Sunday from 2 pm-5 pm; closed Monday and December 25, January 1, Easter and May 1.
Admission: 2 Euros.
By Porto city bus any of the following are convenient: #1M, #207, #303, #400, #500, #900, #901, #904, #905, # #10M and #11M.
The nearest Porto metro station is at São Bento Station, a short walk away.
Nearby
The museum is close to Porto Cathedral.
