Museum of Decorative Arts (Museu de Artes Decorativas), Viana do Castelo
The Museum of Decorative Arts (Museu de Artes Decorativas) in Viana do Castelo is located in an elegant, 18th century Baroque building.
History
Formerly the Museu de Arte e Arqueologia (Museum of Art & Archeology) and the Municipal Museum (Museu Municipal), the now renamed Museum of Decorative Arts is close to the Igreja de São Domingos. The mansion was once used by the archbishops of Braga before passing to the wealthy Barbosa Maciel family.
In 1923 the building and its contents were acquired by the local authorities and became a museum.
The interior of the museum is noted for its fine azulejos tiles depicting hunting scenes and representations of court and palace life.
Another room is resplendent with an exceptional set of tile panels representing the four parts of the world (Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas), demonstrating how Viana do Castelo was a city with a global reach through its port.
In 1993, a new wing was added to the museum by the architect Luís Teles with a gallery for temporary exhibitions, office space and an auditorium.
The exhibits of the museum contain a number of rooms dedicated to high-quality faience ceramics that were once produced in the town under the Viana trademark from 1774 to 1855. Over 300 pieces are on display including bowls, plates and elaborate tea sets.
Other exhibits include a collection of oil paintings both secular and religious and some superb pieces of Indo-Portuguese furniture produced in Portugal's colonies in India during the Age of Discoveries.
On the second floor is an egg-shaped tabernacle - symbolic of resurrection and creation.
The amazing chapel is lined with blue and white azulejos and is richly carved. On the walls are several oratories produced in India with the Christ figure done in ivory.
Other rooms include a wooden four-poster bed and a commode.
The last part of the museum is the new wing with more contemporary pieces of art including modern ceramics and tiles.
Access - Getting There
Museu de Artes Decorativas
Largo de S. Domingos
Viana do Castelo
Tel: 258 809 305
Admission: 2 Euros (discounts are available for students).
Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10 am - 6 pm; Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 1 pm; 2 pm - 6 pm.
From the north-south main street of Avenida dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra from Viana do Castelo Station walk west along Rua Manuel Espregueira and the museum is on your right. It is close to the recommended O Pescador fish restaurant.
www.cm-viana-castelo.pt (official website in Portuguese)