One of Porto’s iconic attractions, Soares dos Reis National Museum is the oldest art museum in the country.
Originally called Porto Museum of Paintings and Prints, it was founded in 1833 and established in the Santo António Monastery, in the eastern part of the city, near São Lázaro garden. Its main purpose was to portray collections of confiscated property from abandoned or extinguished convents in the Porto area during the civil war period. The current denomination was attributed in 1911, in honour of the sculptor António Soares dos Reis, born in Vila Nova de Gaia. It was later listed as a national museum.
In 1940, the museum was transferred to the Carrancas Palace, a building dating from the late 18th century.
Except for minor interventions, the museum only experienced a significant remodeling in the beginning of the 21st century, based on a project by architect Fernando Távora. In addition to the renovation of the painting and decorative arts exhibition areas, new spaces have been created, including an auditorium and temporary exhibition halls, as well as reception areas, a cafeteria and a shop. It is also worth mentioning the regular cultural activities that often take place in the surrounding green areas.
The museum displays a permanent exhibition of Portuguese painting and sculpture from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as other pieces dating from the 16th century.
For events, the Soares dos Reis National Museum offers several options, namely the auditorium, the arena and the Camellias garden.