Sacred Art and Archaeology Museum

Porto, Portugal

The Museum of Sacared Art and Archaeology, part of Porto's Seminário Maior de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, is housed in a 17th Century wing of the former Jesuit College. The museum's remarkable, rich and varied treasures are accommodated in a dynamic and artistically vibrant space that is open to the community and engaged in conserving and communicating the collection. What was once known as the 'corridor of slate' is now a noteworthy gallery of religious sculptures dating back from the 13th to 19th centuries. Sculpture is the true speciality of this museum, as can clearly be seen in the Irene Vilar room. Nevertheless, fascinatingly exceptional examples of painting, illuminated manuscripts, jewellery, vestments, religious adornments and archaeology are also to be found here.

References:

Visit Porto

Museums in Portugal

Address

Rua de Dom Hugo 2, Porto, Portugal

See all sites in Porto

Details

Founded: 1958
Category: Museums in Portugal

More Information

seminariomaior.diocese-porto.pt
www.visitporto.travel

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte (49,9 km)
Church of São Miguel do Castelo (43,3 km)
Braga Cathedral (47,9 km)
Nossa Senhora da Oliveira Church (42,8 km)
Palace of the Dukes of Braganza (43,2 km)
Braga Castle (48,2 km)
Congregados Basilica (48,2 km)
Guimarães Castle (43,4 km)
Dom Diogo de Sousa Regional Museum (47,5 km)

User Reviews

Brian McGuire (9 months ago)
Amazing hidden treasure!

Christopher Griffin (13 months ago)
Very impressive building.

willowabroad (2 years ago)
Great authentic church. Tower access allows city views from a sensational vantage point without interruption. Roman ruins museum a nice add-on.

Angie Illman (3 years ago)
Peaceful church and museum with access to the tower and cloisters. Really lovely and a good spot to go if you’re waiting to get into the cathedral or bishops palace. Tickets were €3 for an adult.

Alexis Egan (3 years ago)
Cost (April 2022): 3 euro Really beautiful church, well-worth visiting. A very small part of the museum is dedicated to archaeology (most signage is in Portuguese), with most of the museum covering religious art. There is also a tower with a great view of the surrounding neighborhood. We read most signs/placards and spent around 1 hour here.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

Historic Site of the week

Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.