Museu da Cerâmica
Ceramics museum of Caldas da Rainha at the Quinta Visconde de Sacavém, with pieces by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro; closed for works since March 2025.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museu da Cerâmica was officially created in 1983 to meet a long-standing wish of the people of Caldas da Rainha, a city with a strong ceramics tradition. It was installed at the Quinta Visconde de Sacavém, acquired for this purpose in 1981, near the Parque D. Carlos I and the present Fábrica Bordalo Pinheiro. The palacete, in revivalist style and dating from the late 19th century, was built by the 2nd Viscount of Sacavém, a patron of the Caldas potters, and the estate has romantic gardens with an open-air auditorium and decorations in azulejo and ceramic.
The collection offers an overview of Portuguese and foreign ceramic centres, from the 16th century to the present, with a predominance of local production: artistic pieces by Manuel Mafra, who brought the naturalism of Bernard Palissy to Caldas, a remarkable group of works by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, Art Nouveau pieces by Costa Motta Sobrinho, and collections of azulejos and miniatures. In 2022 the museum and the garden were classified as a Monument of Public Interest.
On 15 March 2025 the museum closed to the public for requalification works, and the collection was removed to municipal facilities at the Centro de Artes, where it remains until the end of the works. No reopening date has been announced.
Highlights
- Works by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro from the Fábrica de Faianças das Caldas da Rainha
- Artistic ceramics by Manuel Mafra
- Art Nouveau pieces by Costa Motta Sobrinho
- Collections of azulejos and miniatures
- Revivalist palacete with romantic gardens (closed for works)
- Founded
- 1983
- Operated by
- Museus e Monumentos de Portugal
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|
Price of the standard ticket before closure; there are no visits during the works.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
Before closure, the estate had a shop, a café, a documentation centre and an open-air auditorium.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
