Visiting the Faro Municipal Museum
Located in the heart of the Old Town in Faro, the Faro Municipal Museum holds various collections tracing the history of this southern region of Portugal, the Algarve. It occupies a former religious building, the convent of Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Our Lady of the Assumption), founded in 1512 and inhabited by Poor Clare nuns until 1834. A cork factory later occupied the premises before the museum collections moved to the site in 1971.
Collections at the Faro Municipal Museum
The Faro Municipal Museum gathers several artifacts and artworks characteristic of the region, ranging from prehistoric, Roman, and medieval periods, as well as a collection of paintings, primarily religious, created by local artists from the 16th to the 19th century. The museum also hosts numerous temporary exhibitions.
Among the iconic pieces, do not miss the Ocean Mosaic, a Roman work dating from the 2nd or 3rd century, the imperial busts of Hadrian and Agrippina, or a collection of domestic objects from the period of Arab occupation between the 9th and 13th centuries. Regarding paintings, there is also a 20th-century work by Carlos Porfírio themed around the legends of the Algarve.
A historic religious building in the Algarve
The museum is situated in the former convent of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, a Renaissance-style religious building centered around a peaceful cloister. As you walk through the museum, take time to admire its dome, which was built in the 16th century.
During the summer, the Faro Municipal Museum offers the unique addition of Portuguese guitar performances, often featuring fado, a musical style iconic to Portugal.
Let's be honest, you are not going to make the trip to Faro just to see its municipal museum. That being said, if you are already in the area and are interested in the history of the region, take an hour or two to visit this lovely museum. This former convent brings together works and archaeological artifacts that trace the history of southern Portugal.