Casa dos Patudos Museu de Alpiarça
Casa dos Patudos Museu de Alpiarça in the pleasant town of Alpiarça, near Santarém north east of Lisbon, was the former residence of the politician and stateman José Relvas (1858-1929) from the end of the 19th century until his death in 1929.
History
José Relvas is famous as the man who proclaimed the Portuguese Republic from the Camera Municipal in Lisbon on 5th October, 1910. He also served as a diplomat and government minister.
Throughout his life Relvas was an avid collector of art. The museum, which opened in 1960, contains Relvas' collection of fine paintings, furniture, ceramics and silk tapestries.
The house itself was enlarged in 1904 by the prolific Portuguese architect Raul Lino (1879-1974) to contain Relvas' growing collection and family. Lino is known for his large body of work in Sintra, Estoril and Cascais. Lino created a modern house with a restrained exterior and elegant interior, with some of the furniture also designed by him.
Exhibits
Among the Portuguese painting on display are works by the naturalist painters Constantino Fernandes (1878-1920), José Malhoa (1855-1933), Silva Porto (1850-1893) and Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro (1857-1929). José Malhoa and Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro are considered the two greatest Portuguese painters of the late 19th century and early 20th.
Ceramics
There are also European ceramics on display from Vista Alegre near Aveiro in Portugal from Sèvres in France and Meissen in Germany. These works are complemented by azulejos tiles, pieces from the Companhia das Índias (Portuguese East India Company) and also ceramics by Manuel Gustavo Bordalo Pinheiro (1867-1920), nephew of Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro. Bronzes in the collection are by such great French sculptors as Henri Chapu (1833–1891), Marius Jean Antonin Mercié (1845-1916), Emmanuel Frémiet (1824-1910) and others.
Also of interest are the letters and correspondence of José Relvas, which have been preserved at the museum.
The Casa dos Patudo puts on temporary exhibitions as well as its main collection. The museum auditorium can hold up to 200 people for lectures and presentations. There is a small museum shop selling postcards, art books and local art and craft products.
Access
Casa dos Patudos
Rua José Relvas
2090-102 Alpiarça
Tel: 243 558 321
Fax: 243 559 105
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-12 pm; 2 pm-6 pm (summer); Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-12 pm; 2 pm-5 pm (winter); Closed Mondays; 2nd April (municipal holiday); 25th April; 1st of May; Easter Sunday; Christmas and 1st of January.
Admission: Fee: The normal entry price per person is 2.50 € and for a previously scheduled group (of at least 12 persons) the price per person is 1.30 €.
There are frequent trains from Lisbon to Santarém from where Alpiarça can be reached by bus or hire car. There are also three buses a day from Lisbon to Alpiarça.
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