Museu da Covilhã

About the museum

The Museu da Covilhã occupies the former building of the Banco Nacional Ultramarino, designed by Ernesto Korrodi and used as a bank between the 1920s and the 1980s. Only the façade of the original construction remains, covered in azulejos depicting trade and the Discoveries. The building had housed the former Museu de Arte e Cultura and was rehabilitated, reopening to the public on 3 August 2021; the official inauguration took place on 13 November 2022. In 2022 the Associação Portuguesa de Museologia named it Museum of the Year.

The route is organised by floors and in chronological order. On the third floor the first inhabitants and the Romanisation are presented; on the second floor, the Middle Ages and the early modern period; on the first floor, the city and the contemporary era; and on the ground floor, the personalities and heritage of Covilhã, with interactive content. The basement (floor -1) is a multipurpose space for temporary exhibitions, lectures and other activities.

The museum was designed for diverse audiences: it has texts in plain language, braille, tactile replicas, audio description, subtitles and interpretation in Portuguese Sign Language, as well as a visit app. The panel texts are translated into English.

Highlights

• Chronological route across five floors, from prehistory to the present
• Building by Ernesto Korrodi with tiled façade
• Interactive area on the ground floor with old and current photographs
• Tactile replicas, braille, audio description and Portuguese Sign Language
• Museum of the Year 2022 (APOM)

Permanent exhibition

• Percurso permanente da história da Covilhã – Five floors in chronological order, from the first inhabitants and Romanisation to the Middle Ages, the early modern period and the present, with an interactive floor on the town.

Founded

2021

Operated by

Município da Covilhã

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission.

Accessibility

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

External ramp, lift, tactile paving, signage and handrails on the fixed staircases, rest areas, an adapted unisex toilet with a baby-changing facility, and space for guide dogs. Tactile maps and replicas, braille texts, audio description, subtitles and interpretation in Portuguese Sign Language; the visit app has accessible versions.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

The adapted toilet has a baby-changing facility; the ground floor has interactive content.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the historic centre of Covilhã, next to the Praça do Município.

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi for visitors.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit