Alberto Sampaio Museum - Guimarães

The Museu de Alberto Sampaio was founded in 1928 to house the artistic heritage of the defunct Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira church and other churches and monasteries in Guimarães. It is located in the heart of the city, which is part of the World Heritage , on the site where the Countess Mumadona built a monastery in the 10th century.

The museum occupies three spaces that once belonged to the Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira church: the Chapter House ( Casa do Cabido ), the Cloister and the Prior House ( Casa do Priorado ). The Cloister is unique in Portuguese architecture, both for its structure around the main altar of the church and for its irregular shape.

The museum has important collections, of which we would like to emphasize the sculptures and the 13th to 17th century statues in wood and limestone. In the collection of wood carvings , the 16th century altarpiece that belonged to the brotherhood of S. Pedro and the baroque flanks of the church of the Convento de Santa Clara are worth mentioning. Painting is represented by fresco paintings and paintings on wood. The ceramics collection consists of objects made of tiles and faience. The textile collection consists of liturgical vestments and a considerable amount of fabrics.

One of the most important pieces in the museum collection is the military uniform worn by King D. João 1 in the Aljubarrota battle. In the collection of goldsmithery, the valuable collection of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira stands out; a collection of religious objects (chalices, host dishes, monstrances, crosses and reliquaries) dating from the 12th to the 19th century.

Willem Vandenameele