Museum of Transport and Communications

The Museum of Transport and Communications (Museu dos Transportes e Comunicações) in Porto is dedicated to the history of transport and communication in Portugal. It occupies the former New Customs House (Alfândega Nova), right beside the Douro River in the city's riverside district.

What is the museum and when was it founded?

The museum dates to 1992. It began with an association created to establish an institution on transport and communication, with the founding deed issued on 21 February 1992. Its collections follow how people and messages moved around Portugal, with a particular focus on cars, including presidential vehicles.

What is the building like?

The New Customs House dates from 1860 and is neoclassical in style. Its original design, drawn up in the late 1850s, is credited to Jean François Colson. The building was later adapted following a project by the Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, so the architecture is worth a look even if the exhibits are your main goal.

What is on permanent display?

The permanent programme includes:

• "Metamorphosis of a Place", which tells how the site itself has changed,
• "The Engine of the Republic: the Presidential Cars", showing vehicles used by heads of state,
• the panel "Ribeira Negra" by Júlio Resende, an important Portuguese painter.

Are there temporary exhibitions?

Yes, the museum stages them often. Past themes have included the Macau Grand Prix, President Bernardino Machado's train trip to visit Portuguese troops in France during the First World War, a London Natural History Museum show on the origins and future of life on Earth, children's toys, and photography. Check the current programme before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the museum? In Porto, in the former New Customs House beside the Douro.

When was it founded? The institution was founded in 1992; the building dates from 1860.

Is it only about cars? No. The subject is transport and communication in Portugal more broadly, although the presidential car collection is among its best-known features.

Who adapted the building? The work followed a project by architect Eduardo Souto de Moura.

Who will enjoy a visit? Car and twentieth-century history enthusiasts, and anyone interested in architecture, since the neoclassical building on the Douro is an attraction in itself. Temporary shows, including ones for families and photography fans, widen the appeal.