Museu de Olaria

Museu de Olaria in Barcelos is a ceramics museum set in a historic house in the centre of town. Its collection holds around 9,000 pieces from Portugal and abroad, making it a natural stop for anyone who wants to understand pottery in northern Portugal.

What is this place?

The museum occupies the former Casa dos Mendanhas Benevides Cyrne. Barcelos Municipal Council bought the house in 1982. The institution itself is older than its current home: it was created in 1963 and opened to visitors in 1995. Since 2000 it has belonged to the Portuguese Museum Network (Rede Portuguesa de Museus), a formal accreditation. In 2019 it joined the International Academy of Ceramics, one of the most respected bodies in the field.

What is in the collection?

Most of the collection is Portuguese ceramics gathered from across the country, north to south, both matte and glazed. The second part is foreign ceramics, including pieces from Angola, Algeria, Brazil, Timor, Chile, Spain and Cape Verde. This pairing lets you compare the Portuguese tradition with work from other parts of the world.

On 6 May 2023 the museum inaugurated its permanent exhibition, "Olaria de Portugal". It organises the presentation of Portuguese ceramics and forms the core of what you see today.

How was the museum renovated?

After renovation, upgrading and expansion works, the museum reopened to the public on 31 August 2013. The expansion gave the permanent exhibition a larger display area. If you come to Barcelos for its crafts, this museum pairs well with a walk through the old town.

Opening hours and contact

• Tuesday to Friday: 10:00-17:30
• Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10:00-12:30 and 14:00-17:30
• Closed: 1 January, 15 August, 1 November, 24-25 December and Easter

Phone: +351 253 824 741. Check the hours before you go, because the museum closes at midday on weekends.

Frequently asked questions

How many objects are in the collection? Around 9,000, mainly matte and glazed Portuguese ceramics plus pieces from several other countries.

When was the museum founded? It was created in 1963 and has been open to visitors since 1995.

Is the museum open at weekends? Yes, on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 17:30.

When did the permanent exhibition "Olaria de Portugal" open? On 6 May 2023.

What building does the museum occupy? The former Casa dos Mendanhas Benevides Cyrne in the historic centre of Barcelos, bought by the council in 1982.

Is the collection only Portuguese? No. It also includes objects from Angola, Algeria, Brazil, Timor, Chile, Spain and Cape Verde.