Núcleo do Azeite – Lagares de Proença-a-Velha
Former agricultural estate (arraial) in the Beira region with two olive presses, presses from various periods and a gallery on olive oil, in Proença-a-Velha.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Núcleo do Azeite (Olive Oil Unit) occupies the Lagares de Proença-a-Velha, a former agricultural estate in the Beira region that belonged to the Counts of Proença-a-Velha. The Idanha-a-Nova municipality acquired the complex from the Pinto da Rocha family in the 1990s and, under the guidance of Benjamim Pereira, turned it into a museum. The unit opened in May 2005.
The complex comprises a cabanal (rustic outbuilding), straw barns and two presses: one with beam presses and a three-stone olive mill (pio) powered by animals, and another, mechanical one, with two hydraulic presses. There is also a central screw press, with two large stone blocks as weights, and an industrial mill with hydraulic drive, brought from Donas, in Fundão. One of the straw barns is an exhibition gallery with a summary of the history of olive oil in Portugal and the region; the other is a modern olive oil extraction unit, with an automatic line installed in 2009.
The site also has an area for workshops and studios for school groups and hosts the Festival do Azeite e Fumeiro de Proença-a-Velha (Olive Oil and Smoked Meats Festival of Proença-a-Velha).
Highlights
- Two presses: beam presses and hydraulic presses
- Central screw press with a hydraulic-driven mill
- Gallery on olive oil in Portugal
- Modern olive oil extraction unit
- Workshops and studios for school groups
Permanent exhibition
- Galeria do azeite em Portugal – In one of the straw barns, a summary of the introduction and production of olive oil in Portugal and in the region.
- Founded
- 2005
- Operated by
- Município de Idanha-a-Nova
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
Workshops and studios are available for school groups.
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.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours available. |
