Let us guess: one of your promises for 2023 is to visit more museums. Did we get it right? Maybe not, but you’ve certainly got the bug.
Cascais is not only about good weather and beautiful beaches, it also has a strong cultural offer. Near the town there are some of the best museums in the municipality, all part of the Bairro dos Museus, a concept created to cover a range of cultural facilities.
We leave below 5 museums in Cascais that may interest you if you go for a walk in the town centre:
King D. Carlos Sea Museum
The Sea Museum in Cascais was inaugurated in 1992, in honour of D. Carlos – a monarch who, as many know, was passionate about the sea.
This museum has undergone constant renovations over the years in order to remain appealing to the modern public, always centring its themes around biodiversity, climatic problems and maritime history.
King D.Carlos Sea Museum has a strong educational component, which is why it is often visited by classes and schools from all over the country. It is open every day except Monday.
Museum Condes de Castro Guimarães
This museum was the former residence of Condes de Castro Guimarães, which was left in will to the town of Cascais in 1924, as well as a vast artistic and library collection.
The museum is integrated in the Marechal de Carmona Park and currently has 5 different rooms:
- Clover Room: where you can witness traces of the Irish origin of the building’s first owner.
- Music Room: here you will find a beautiful French Romantic organ, undoubtedly one of the most outstanding pieces in the museum.
- Neo-Gothic Room: the current Cascais public library, the former bookshop of the Counts of Castro Guimarães and the former dining room of the O’Neill family.
- Reading Room: the former kitchen which now serves as a library collection with around 2830 volumes.
- Dr. José de Figueiredo Room: the former dressing room of the counts, now dedicated to the historian, museologist and art critic who was part of the first Administrative Commission of the museum.
The museum is open every day except Monday.
Paula Rego’s House of Stories
It is one of the most popular museums in Cascais, and with good reason. Designed by the architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, this building features a unique exterior design and inside a collection of 620 works by the painter and artist Paula Rego.
The collection of over 50 years of the career of this legendary Portuguese artist can be seen next to Marechal Carmona Park, every day from 10am to 6pm. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Sommer House
The Sommer House currently functions as the Municipal Historical Archive and the Cascais Municipal Bookshop.
It is a neoclassical building that stands out to anyone’s eyes, with a very appealing bookshop inside where it is possible to buy works edited by the municipality, mainly focused on themes such as archaeology, architecture, history and culture.
Sommer House is open every day, including Sundays and public holidays.
Cascais Cultural Centre
Completing this list is the Centro Cultural de Cascais. It was created after the renovation of the Convento de Nossa Senhora da Piedade and this venue hosts various exhibitions, conferences and small concerts throughout the year.
It is a question of keeping an eye on Cascais Cultural Centre’s programme and on the events that may be of interest to you.
In addition to these museums, many other museums and cultural facilities are part of the Bairro dos Museus in Cascais. You can buy a general ticket to visit them all, or one of the many other options offered by the ticket office. On the first Sunday of every month entrance is free.
Click here to read more about all that Cascais can offer you for a weekend break, a holiday or simply a late afternoon visit with the family.