Casa Museu José Régio

Casa Museu José Régio in Portalegre is the house museum of the poet José Régio (1901–1969), who lived here for 34 years. It works both as a biographical and an ethnographic museum, because Régio was not only a writer but also an avid collector. The rooms are filled with hundreds of pieces of sacred and folk art gathered by one man over decades.

What is Casa Museu José Régio?

This is the former home of a writer who came to Portalegre as a teacher. Today it shows both his daily life and his passion for collecting "modest things of popular art". A visit feels closer to walking through a collector's private home than through a conventional gallery of display cases.

What is the history of the building?

The house dates from the late 17th century. It is believed to have once been an annex of the Convent of São Brás, of which traces remain, notably part of the chapel. Régio first rented a single room. As his collection grew, he took over further rooms until he became the sole occupant of the whole house.

In 1965 the writer sold his collections to the Portalegre municipality on condition that the town buy the house, restore it and turn it into a museum. It opened to the public in 1971, after the poet's death.

What can you see in the collection?

The collections are spread across 17 permanent exhibition rooms and one storage room, on two floors. They include:

• sculpture and painting,
• faience and ceramics,
• furniture,
• metalwork, including pewter, copper and wrought iron,
• textiles,
• numismatics and medals,
• documents and records,
• shepherds' handiwork and objects made of horn.

The most striking part is a group of more than 400 crucifixes. The oldest figures date from the Gothic period, the 15th century. Alongside them you will find moulds for bread and cakes, paintings, thimbles and other small items that reflect Alentejo craftsmanship.

Who is it for?

• Readers of Portuguese literature who want to see an author's home.
• Anyone interested in the sacred and folk art of the Alentejo.
• Travellers looking for something less obvious than the main sights of Portalegre.

The museum stands on Rua José Régio in Portalegre, a town in the Alentejo region of eastern Portugal. Plan at least an hour, since 17 rooms full of small objects reward slow looking.

Frequently asked questions

Who was José Régio? A Portuguese writer and poet (1901–1969) who worked for many years as a teacher in Portalegre and lived in this house.

When did the museum open? Régio sold his collection to the town in 1965, and the museum opened in 1971 through the Portalegre municipal council.

How many exhibition rooms are there? Seventeen permanent exhibition rooms plus a storage room, on two floors.

What is the most notable collection? More than 400 crucifixes, the oldest of them Gothic pieces from the 15th century.

Is the museum open on Mondays? No. It is closed on Mondays and public holidays, and open during the day with a midday break on other days of the week.