Museu dos Terceiros
Sacred art museum in Ponte de Lima, housed in the former Convent of Santo António dos Capuchos and in the church of the Third Order of Saint Francis.
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About the museum
The idea of creating a sacred art museum in Ponte de Lima arose in the 1960s, after restoration works on the parish church (Igreja Matriz), when part of the church's valuable religious heritage lost its original function. The church of the former Convent of Santo António was chosen to gather it, with the permission of the ecclesiastical authorities. On 2 January 1975 the Instituto Limiano – Museu dos Terceiros was founded, and the opening ceremony took place on 30 April 1977. In the 1980s the museum was enriched with ethnography and archaeology collections.
The museum occupies two religious buildings linked to the Franciscan Order: what remains of the extinct Convent of Santo António dos Capuchos, founded at the end of the 15th century by the alcaide (governor) of Ponte de Lima, D. Leonel de Lima, with its church, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Graça and the sacristy; and the church of the Third Order of Saint Francis, built between 1745 and 1747 and furnished over the following decades with altarpieces, pulpits and rococo valances. At the beginning of the 19th century the choir stalls and the pipe organ, both in a neoclassical style, were added.
Following a joint management agreement between the Instituto Limiano and the Municipality of Ponte de Lima, signed in 2002, the buildings were restored and the museum reopened to the public in 2008. It is today a reference for sacred art in the north of the country, with educational services, a temporary exhibition programme and activities also aimed at seniors.
Highlights
- Convent of Santo António dos Capuchos, founded at the end of the 15th century
- Church of the Third Order with rococo altarpieces and pulpits
- Neoclassical pipe organ and choir stalls
- One of the best sacred art collections in northern Portugal
- Ethnography and archaeology collections
Permanent exhibition
- Arte sacra e coleções do Museu dos Terceiros – Route through the two Franciscan buildings, with sacred art from the parish church and from other churches and chapels in the municipality, together with ethnography and archaeology collections.
- Founded
- 1977
- Operated by
- Município de Ponte de Lima / Instituto Limiano
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €2.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €1.25Holders of the Cartão Jovem youth card and of a student card (50% discount) |
| Children & teens | €2.50free up to age 11 · Free admission for children under 12. |
| Seniors | freeFree admission from age 65 (inclusive). |
| Students & apprentices | €1.25Students and holders of the Cartão Jovem youth card: 50% discount. |
| Groups (15+ people) | –Guided visits for organised groups (15 to 30 people): discount of €1.50 per person on the general rate. Schools from outside the municipality: €15 per class of 25 pupils without an activity, €25 with an activity. By advance booking only. |
Free admission is also granted to members of the Instituto Limiano, visits accredited by the Municipality, teachers and pupils from schools in the municipality on study visits booked with the museum, and researchers with proof of status.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 11 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
The educational service offers activities for children and seniors. The website has pages for younger visitors, with colouring games, children's books and ideas for making toys.
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 |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Group visits with a guide take place only by advance booking and at their own rate. |
