MMAP
The Municipal Museum Abade Pedrosa is housed in the former guesthouse of the Monastery of Santo Tirso. The monastery was founded by Dona Unisco Godiniz in 978, and its affiliation with the Benedictine Order dates back to 1092. Its current composition is largely the result of extensive renovations carried out in the 17th century under the direction of Friar João Turriano, combining influences from Roman Baroque and French and German Rococo.
The renovation of the MMAP, completed in May 2016, was part of a broader program that included the construction of the headquarters of the Santo Tirso Museum of Contemporary Sculpture, with which it shares various functions.
The museum collection on display consists of archaeological objects from various locations in the region, spanning a chronological range from the Middle Paleolithic to the advent of industrialization. The permanent exhibition aims to document, through material culture, the daily life of populations in different historical periods, closely linked to the archaeological sites that serve as repositories of knowledge about the cultures represented.
On September 20, 2006, the Internal Regulations and Collections Policy were approved (meeting no. 18, item 2, pp. 8–26), instruments that define the guiding principles and scope of action of the Municipal Museum.
The Museum’s main missions are:
- To study, document, conserve, and promote its collection, as well as to support and collaborate in the study, safeguarding, and dissemination of archaeological and architectural heritage, along with scientific studies related to the region’s historical and archaeological contexts;
- To promote awareness and dissemination of history and heritage, and to encourage research projects in the field of Social Sciences;
- To stimulate participation in and attendance of cultural activities, particularly those related to temporary exhibitions and other events developed across its various fields, especially in the visual and performing arts.
The museum’s objectives are:
- To safeguard, study, and disseminate the collections that make up its holdings;
- To highlight archaeological assets as irreplaceable testimonies for understanding past cultures and historical realities;
- To support and collaborate in the protection, study, and dissemination of the municipality’s archaeological and architectural heritage;
- To broaden and diversify the museum’s audience;
- To establish partnerships with similar institutions for the conservation, study, dissemination, and enjoyment of cultural heritage;
- To create and develop museological centers to be integrated into its organizational structure across different domains and heritage contexts related to architecture and archaeology, thereby promoting the dissemination of the municipality’s history and heritage;
- To collaborate in the creation and organization of museological centers or interpretive centers to be established in the Santo Tirso municipality, encouraging the implementation of best practices in line with new museology.
