Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro
National museum of Coimbra in the former Episcopal Palace, with a Roman cryptoporticus, sculpture, goldsmith work and painting (closed for works).
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum is named after the sculptor from Coimbra Joaquim Machado de Castro (1731–1822). It was created by decree in 1911 and opened to the public in October 1913, with António Augusto Gonçalves as its first director. It incorporated the Museu da Sé, the first Portuguese museum of sacred art, created in 1884, and was recognised as a national museum in 1965.
The building brings together three interconnected parts: the Roman cryptoporticus from the mid-1st century, which supported the forum of Aeminium and forms part of the visit route; the former Episcopal Palace, with structures that may date back to the 11th or 12th centuries and classified as a National Monument since 1910; and a new building by the architect Gonçalo Byrne, awarded the Piranesi Prize/Prix de Rome in 2014. The museum closed in 2006 for a major renovation and reopened at the end of 2012.
The collection comes mainly from convents, monasteries and churches in the region that were extinguished in 1834, and from the university colleges. It includes the most representative ensemble of Coimbra sculpture from the 14th to 16th centuries, sacred goldsmith work from the 12th to 18th centuries, jewellery and Portuguese painting from the 15th to 20th centuries, with a nucleus of 16th-century Flemish painting in which the Triptych of the Passion of Christ by Quentin Metsys stands out. The museum forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage property “University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia”, inscribed in 2013.
Highlights
- Roman cryptoporticus from the mid-1st century
- Coimbra sculpture from the 14th to 16th centuries, with the Christ in the Tomb
- Sacred goldsmith work, with the Manueline monstrance of the Sé de Coimbra (1527)
- Triptych of the Passion of Christ by Quentin Metsys
- New building by Gonçalo Byrne linked to the former Episcopal Palace
Permanent exhibitions
- Escultura de Coimbra, séculos XIV a XVI – The most representative ensemble of Coimbra sculpture from this period, often in Ançã stone, with the Christ in the Tomb and the Black Christ.
- Ourivesaria e joalharia – Sacred goldsmith work from the 12th to 18th centuries, with the chalice of D. Gueda Mendes, the treasure of Rainha Santa Isabel (Queen Saint Isabel) and the Manueline monstrance of the Sé de Coimbra, and jewellery from the 16th to 18th centuries.
- Pintura e criptopórtico romano – Portuguese painting from the 15th to 20th centuries and 16th-century Flemish painting, with the Triptych of the Passion of Christ by Quentin Metsys, and a visit to the Roman cryptoporticus.
- Operated by
- Museus e Monumentos de Portugal
- Visitors per year
- approx. 36,918
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Visitors aged 65 or over, young people aged 13 to 24 and families with at least one adult and one child (50% discount). |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 11 · Children under 12, accompanied by an adult, do not pay. |
| Seniors | €550% discount from age 65, with proof. |
| Students & apprentices | –Students and young people aged 13 to 24 have a 50% discount; students and teachers on study visits do not pay. |
| Families | –50% discount for families with at least one adult and one child. |
| Cryptoporticus Circuit | €3 |
Free admission: Residents of Portugal have free access on 52 days a year of their choice, upon presentation of the Cartão de Cidadão.
Prices from the Museus e Monumentos de Portugal price list in force since 1 January 2025. Free admission also for unemployed residents of the European Union, members of ICOM and ICOMOS, and museum and heritage professionals. Tickets are bought at the online ticket office or on site.
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
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The education service can be contacted at se@mnmachadocastro.pt. |
