MIAA – Museu Ibérico de Arqueologia e Arte de Abrantes

About the museum

The MIAA is housed in the Convento de São Domingos, built in the 16th century and a central piece of Abrantes' heritage. The convent received royal family tombs, such as that of Infante D. Fernando in 1534, and after the religious orders were dissolved in 1834 it had various military and educational uses. It was rehabilitated for museum purposes to a design by the architect Carrilho da Graça, who won the Prémio Nuno Teotónio Pereira 2022.

The museum opened on 8 December 2021 and brings together three collections: the municipal archaeology and art collection, with sacred sculpture from the 15th to 18th centuries; the Coleção Estrada, donated by the Fundação Ernesto Estrada, Filhos, with some 1,500 archaeological and antiquities pieces from the Iberian Peninsula, the Mediterranean and Asia; and the work of the painter Maria Lucília Moita. The Associação Portuguesa de Museologia awarded it the Museu do Ano 2023 prize.

The permanent exhibitions are arranged in eight units, covering Roman sculpture, prehistory and the Bronze and Iron Ages, Antiquity, the Treasure, medieval and modern art, medieval and Renaissance sculpture in Abrantes, and the painting of Maria Lucília Moita. The cloister tells the story of the convent and the city, and several rooms host temporary exhibitions, including works from the Coleção de Arte Contemporânea Figueiredo Ribeiro.

Highlights

• Eight permanent exhibition units, from prehistory to contemporary art
• Coleção Estrada with pieces from the Iberian Peninsula, the Mediterranean and Asia
• Sacred sculpture from Abrantes, 15th to 18th centuries
• Painting and drawing by Maria Lucília Moita
• Convento de São Domingos rehabilitated by Carrilho da Graça, Museu do Ano 2023

Permanent exhibitions

• Coleção Municipal – Archaeology of the municipality of Abrantes and the development of Portuguese sculpture from the 15th to 18th centuries, with pieces from the city's extinct churches and convents.
• Coleção Estrada – Archaeology and antiquities assembled by João Estrada, which relate the history of the Iberian Peninsula to the Mediterranean and Asia.
• Coleção Maria Lucília Moita – Painting and drawing by the artist, from early naturalism to abstraction.

Founded

2021

Operated by

Município de Abrantes

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission on Sundays, on International Museum Day (18 May), on the city day of Abrantes (14 June) and on the museum's anniversary (8 December).

The pack includes the MIAA, the Museu de Arte Contemporânea Charters de Almeida, the Museu Metalúrgica Duarte Ferreira and the Panteão dos Almeida. Free admission also for school groups during school time, museum professionals, members of ICOM, ICOMOS and APOM, and unemployed residents of the European Union, upon proof.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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

Information on accessibility is not given on the pages consulted.

Kids & families

Family ticket of €10 (1 or 2 adults and 2 young people aged 13 to 17) and free admission on Sundays.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the Jardim da República, in the centre of Abrantes, in the former Convento de São Domingos.

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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