National Museum Soares dos Reis

National Museum Soares dos Reis (Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis) is an art museum in Porto, Portugal, and one of the oldest public museums in the country. It occupies the Carrancas Palace, a late eighteenth-century mansion in the centre of the city, in the area of Cedofeita.

What is the National Museum Soares dos Reis?

It is a national art museum with collections of Portuguese art from several centuries. The museum takes its name from the sculptor António Soares dos Reis, and his work has a dedicated place in the displays. Visitors will find ceramics, sculpture, engravings, jewellery, furniture, goldwork, paintings, textiles and glass, so a single visit covers many kinds of craft and art rather than one narrow period.

How did the museum begin?

The institution was founded in 1833 under the name Museu Portuense. It was created to hold works of art that the state had taken over from dissolved monasteries in Porto and elsewhere in Portugal. This makes it the first Portuguese national museum presenting collections of Portuguese art. In 1932 it was raised to the rank of National Museum. That year brought a major reorganisation led by Vasco Valente, and the collections grew with objects from the Episcopal Palace of Porto, the Industrial Museum and the former Municipal Museum.

Why is it housed in the Carrancas Palace?

As part of the national commemorations of 1940, the museum was installed in the Carrancas Palace, opening with an exhibition devoted to Soares dos Reis. The palace was designed from 1795 by the architect Joaquim da Costa Lima Sampaio as a residence and a factory for the Moraes e Castro family. Its history includes the Peninsular War: the building served as headquarters of the French army and later of the Duke of Wellington. The museum therefore combines art with a building that has its own place in the story of Porto.

What are the highlights?

Ten objects in the collection are classified as Assets of National Interest. Among them are the sculpture "O Desterrado" by Soares dos Reis, an episcopal cross from the eighteenth century and a pair of Eucharistic cruets from Mughal India. The range of these pieces shows how the collection mixes national sculpture, church art and objects with links far beyond Portugal.

Practical information

The museum lies in Porto's historic centre, in the civil parish that joins Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau and Vitória. Its coordinates are about 41.148 N, 8.622 W. It is easy to combine with a walk through the surrounding streets. Check the official museum website for current opening hours and ticket prices before you go, as they can change.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Soares dos Reis? A Portuguese sculptor whose name the museum bears; his sculpture "O Desterrado" is among its most important works.

When was the museum founded? In 1833, as the Museu Portuense.

Is it a national museum? Yes, it received the status of National Museum in 1932.

What kinds of objects can I see? Paintings, sculpture, ceramics, engravings, jewellery, furniture, gold, textiles and glass.

Where is it? In the Carrancas Palace in Porto, northern Portugal.