Location: Porto
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Top 9 Art Museums in Porto, Northern Portugal
The town that gave the country (and port wine) its very name, Porto is Portugal’s second-largest metropolis after Lisbon. Sometimes called Oporto, it's an age-old city that has one foot firmly in the industrial present. The old town, centered at Ribeira, was built on the hills overlooking the Douro River, and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 14th-century São Francisco church is a main attraction, as are the local port wine cellars, mostly located across the river at Vila Nova de Gaia.
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1. Palace Museum - Espaco Palmeiras
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
The Palacio Museu Espaço Palmeiras, is a building of the end of the sec. 19 classified as Cultural Monument Of Porto City. It is located in the heart of the city, within a 5-minute walk of iconic monuments such as: Clérigos Tower, Lello Bookstore, Carmo Church and Aliados Avenue. We can harmoniously find Neogothic and Neoclassical elements, with naturalistic paintings.
Reviewed By craigmillard26 - Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
We could not quite believe the service we received from this hotel. From late arrival and a warm welcome to include a glass of port and biscuits, to the most amazing breakfasts. Nothing was too much trouble. A very early start was met with a gorgeous array of food to help ourselves too before we went out, so we didn’t leave on an empty stomach. We truly were treated like part of the family, and make to feel like this was our home from home in Porto. Then the accommodation itself was truly breathtaking. The most amazing suite, beautiful decor and everything you could wish for. A recommendation to visit somehow doesn’t seem enough, simply put, a stay here for would be one of the most incredible experiences you will have anywhere. The location is also a fantastic base from which to explore Porto.
2. Casa Sao Roque Centro de Arte
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 30 reviews
In the eastern part of Porto, Casa Sao Roque features a collection of Contemporary Art with works by artists from around the world. The Architecture of the house, its History and garden will provide you an unique experience.
Reviewed By lucianas903 - Porto, Portugal
This beautiful house is located inside São Roque Park and it is surrounded by its own garden, full of camellia's trees. Although the house was renovated, I only visited the exterior once the expensive tickets to see the inside area costs 7 Euros. It worth the visit and have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine in the private house garden surrounded by the camellias.
3. House of Filigree
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
House of Filigree é um museu dedicado à filigrana portuguesa. Com uma exposição em que que explica a técnica e um acervo de peças de filigrana dos séculos XIX ao XXI. No atelier, integrado no percurso, os artesãos trabalham ao vivo! Na boutique poderá comprar a autêntica filigrana feita à mão, tradicional ou contemporânea. Bilhete reembolsável na compra de uma peça de filigrana.
4. Museu Serralves
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2,562 reviews
The Serralves Foundation is a cultural institution with a contemporary vision of Art and Landscape, and is considered to be one of Portugal’s leading cultural institutions. The Foundation’s entire landscape and architectural heritage was classified as a National Monument in 2012. It consists of the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Casa do Cinema Manoel de Oliveira (both designed by the architect Álvaro Siza), Serralves Villa (a unique example of Art Deco architecture), and the 18-hectare Serralves Park with the pioneering Treetop Walk: an elevated walkway close to the treetops.
Reviewed By Oscar8T - Carbondale, United States
It was another rainy day that quashed some of our exploration of the wonderful park within the museum complex walls. They have both permanent and temporary sculptures throughout the park area. At the ticket area one can get a map of the museum and gardens with all of the sculptures well labeled and the paths well delineated. We visited two of the major buildings. The first was the art deco house where a temporary exhibition of Paula Rego was presented. The large pink structure has several mirrored doors and some art deco features like a fireplace and a bathroom of the former residence. There are some nice views of the surrounding park from many of the large windows. The major contemporary art portion is in a contemporary white angular building with a central exhibition space with large wings on either side. It has three floors. A bookshop is contained in this building as well as several coffee shops and a cafeteria. The museum shop is in a small structure on the way to entering the park. At the time of our visit the museum contained several temporary contemporary art exhibitions. We did not see any of the permanent collection perhaps because a conference was occurring in the museum and a portion in the basement was closed.
5. Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 316 reviews
Reviewed By zubenel57 - Dundee, United Kingdom
The National Museum of Soares dos Reis is located beside Porto Central Hospital just to the east of the Crystal Palace Gardens and entrance is 5 Euros per adult. This is Portugal's first Art Museum (1833) and is housed in the 18th century Palace of Carrancas. The exhibition comprises of paintings, sculptures, jewellery, furniture and other objects d'art that were collected from extinct monasteries, Royal Palaces etc. We found that during our visit that we were the only visitors in the museum at the time so there was no problem in taking our time looking at the exhibits if we wanted to. The first section of the Palace consisted of paintings and sculptures of the highest quality especially the paintings by Henrique Pousao, I saw more works of this artist when we visited Lisbon a few days later. The second section contained jewellery, gold and silverware, glassware and ceramics demonstrating the richness and fineness of Portuguese craftsmanship. We thought overall that this collection was fabulous to see and wished that we had a bit more time for our visitation.
6. MMIPO - Museu da Misericordia do Porto
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 215 reviews
Reviewed By apgteixeira - Porto, Portugal
The museum offers insight into the history of Porto and its people. The exhibition is very well structured and it is both in Portuguese and English. The price of the regular ticket is 5€ (student ticket - 2,50€). Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto is one of the oldest institutions in the city and its History is the history of the city.
7. Museu Quinta de Santiago
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By Cosmopolitan800580
Housed in a family house built at the end of the 19th Century by Italian architect Nicola Bigaglia this museum displays the domestic architecture of a wealthy family house of that period. There are views overlooking the working port. On the upper floor are a display of paintings and drawing by Gomes a local painter including two large scenes of fisher-folk from different stages of his career. There is also a pencil drawing of Christ on the Cross with a bishop sitting beside him wearing a very sinister pair of glasses. The entry fee is just 1 Euro and there is a small bookshop. In the grounds are several interesting sculptures, but a wet January morning was not a time to see them at their best. Needless to say, as others have commented, we were the only visitors.
8. Casa Oficina Antonio Carneiro
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 4 reviews
The House of Antonio Carneiro was built around 1920 as a workshop and home for the artist and his son Carlos Carneiro, both renowned figures in the world of Portuguese symbolist and modernist art. Antonio Carneiro's other son, the distinguished composer Claudio Carneyro, also lived here.
