Museu Marítimo de Ílhavo

About the museum

The Museu Marítimo de Ílhavo is a museum of the Câmara Municipal de Ílhavo. It was founded on 8 August 1937, after a long process promoted by a group of friends of the museum, and began with an ethnographic and regional focus. In 2001 it was renovated and extended and moved into a modern building designed by the architectural practice ARX Portugal.

That same year it acquired the Navio-Museu Santo André, a former cod-fishing trawler. In 2012 the research unit CIEMar-Ílhavo was created, in 2013 the Aquário de Bacalhaus (cod aquarium) opened, and in 2021 the Centro de Religiosidade Marítima was inaugurated, bringing together the spiritual heritage linked to the sea.

The museum's mission is to preserve the memory of working at sea and to promote the maritime culture and identity of the Portuguese. The main themes of the collection are cod fishing in the waters of Newfoundland and Greenland, the fishing work on the Ria de Aveiro and the diaspora of the people of Ílhavo along the Portuguese coast; each theme has its own permanent exhibition.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibitions on cod fishing and the Ria de Aveiro
• Aquário de Bacalhaus (cod aquarium)
• Navio-Museu Santo André, a former cod-fishing trawler
• Centro de Religiosidade Marítima
• Modern building designed by the architectural practice ARX Portugal

Permanent exhibitions

• Exposições permanentes do Museu Marítimo – Five rooms devoted to the Faina Maior (cod fishing), the Ria, shells and seaweed, the seas and the arts.
• Aquário de Bacalhaus – Aquarium with live cod, opened in 2013, and a space dedicated to the oceans.
• Centro de Religiosidade Marítima – The first museum space in Portugal dedicated to the spiritual heritage linked to the sea, opened in 2021.

Founded

1937

Operated by

Câmara Municipal de Ílhavo

Admission & discounts

Free admission: The second Sunday of every month, 18 May (International Museum Day) and 8 August (the museum's anniversary).

Free admission also for members of the Associação dos Amigos do Museu de Ílhavo, members of ICOM and ICMM, children up to the age of 5, schools and institutions of the municipality, researchers, journalists and tourism professionals on duty. The Centrocard of Turismo do Centro gives 50% off. The combined ticket cannot be combined with other reductions.

Accessibility

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

The Museu Marítimo, the Navio-Museu Santo André and the Centro de Religiosidade Marítima declare themselves accessible to all, but the Navio-Museu, given its nature, is not suitable for visitors with reduced mobility; it has a 360° virtual visit space and a 3D model. The museum app allows visits in Portuguese, English and French, with translation into Portuguese Sign Language. There are Braille captions, videos with audio description and 3D and 2½D pieces, available at reception.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The educational service organises activities for children aged 6 to 10 during the Christmas, Carnival and Easter school holidays.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Online shop with books, crafts and gastronomic products.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum rents its auditorium and other spaces.

Plan your visit