Curtir Ciência – Centro Ciência Viva de Guimarães

About the museum

Curtir Ciência, Centro Ciência Viva de Guimarães, occupies the building of the former Fábrica de Curtumes Âncora (Âncora Tannery), in the Zona de Couros, the district of Guimarães where leather tanning was a major economic activity until the 20th century. The building, which dates back to the 17th century, was acquired by the Câmara Municipal de Guimarães in 1978 and renovated in a way that preserves its industrial character, with tanks, vats and hide-drying sheds.

The centre was born from a partnership between the Município de Guimarães, the Universidade do Minho and the Rede Nacional Ciência Viva (national Ciência Viva network), and it receives support from European funds through the Northern regional programme. The name Curtir Ciência plays on the word “curtir”, which means both “to tan” and “to enjoy”. Today it operates as an association that promotes scientific and technological culture among schools, families and the general public, through an informal approach to science.

The permanent exhibition brings together interactive modules on electronics and instrumentation, robotics, recycling, engineering and communications, and a room kept in its original condition, where the stages of the tanning process are recreated with photographs, testimonies and documents. The centre also offers creative workshops for families and schools, workshops for seniors and a guided visit to the building and the memory of the tanneries.

Highlights

• Former Âncora tannery, an example of industrial archaeology
• “Couros” room, with the stages of hide tanning
• Interactive modules on electronics, robotics, recycling and engineering
• LEGO and Ozobot robots in the creative workshops
• “Memória” guided visit to the building and the tanning vats

Permanent exhibitions

• Exposição permanente – Interactive modules on electronics and instrumentation, robotics, recycling, engineering and communications, in a renovated industrial building.
• Couros – Room kept in its original conservation condition, which recreates the stages of hide tanning with photographs, testimonies and documents.

Founded

2015

Operated by

Curtir Ciência – Associação (Município de Guimarães e Universidade do Minho)

Admission & discounts

The price of the admission ticket to the permanent exhibition is not stated on the centre's website. In the creative workshops, accompanying adults do not pay and children up to 2 years old enter free; the price also applies to adults who want to take part in the activity.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Guimarães tourism portal indicates that the centre is accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Creative workshops for families (children aged 4 to 12 and older) with robots, slime, maths and microscopy, subject to pre-booking. The educational offer for schools includes field trips and workshops for basic education.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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