Museu Militar do Porto
Encyclopedia
The Museu Militar do Porto (translated: Military Museum of Porto) is a pertaining institution to the Portuguese Army
, dedicated for the preservation of military history, located in Porto
, Portugal
.
and to the return of the collection of the portuense painter Joaquim Vitorino Ribeiro, ran the year of 1920, when the President, António José de Almeida
, inaugurated an exposition on the Liberal Revolution of 1820
, in this city.
By 1957 the commandant-in-chief of the Military Region of Northern Portugal, based in Porto city, conducted a study in order to adapt the Castle of São João da Foz, at Foz do Douro
parish, for a museum. However, the idea was definitively abandoned by 1970, due to the high cost of the adaptation of the building. A new location was identified in 1977, in a building in the Rua do Heroísmo, where the delegation of the former secret police PIDE/DGS
used to be located between the 1940s up to 1974.
In 1977, the Revolutionary Council
, created after the Carnation Revolution
of 25 April 1974, legislated the founding of the Museu Militar do Porto. After the proper adaptation of the building and installation of all the contents, the inauguration took place in 21 March 1980 by the President of the Republic, Ramalho Eanes.
The collection of miniature figure
s, displaying the evolution of soldiers since pre-history times till nowadays is the Military Museum main attraction. This collection is represented by surrounds 16,000 miniatures, proceeding from the most famous plants of European miniatures, as: Britains, CBG Mignot, Segom, Heyde, Elastolin
and Lineol, among others.
The Museum also holds a room dedicated to the Revolution of January 31, 1891, the first attempt to establish a Republic in Portugal
.
The museum collectin also includes several cannons and combat vehicles, from the 15th to the 20th centuries, located in the Park of Heavy Weapons and the Pavilion of Weapons. In this last space, it can also be observed the evolution of the cutting weapons and some collections of firearms.
Moreover, the Museum possesses a small thematic library available to the public.
parish, was initially destined to the habitation of D. Maria Coimbra, and was built by the end of 19th century. It is a characteristic construction of that period. During the Spanish Civil War
, it lodged Spanish nuns, and, by 1948, the building was bought by the Portuguese State by 450,000 escudos
(equivalent to approx. 2,250 euros) to install the secret police in Porto, the PIDE
.
Portuguese Army
The Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
, dedicated for the preservation of military history, located in Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
History
The will to create a Military Museum left of the half civilian, led for the City council of PortoPorto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
and to the return of the collection of the portuense painter Joaquim Vitorino Ribeiro, ran the year of 1920, when the President, António José de Almeida
António José de Almeida
António José de Almeida, GCTE, GCA, GCC, GCSE, , son of José António de Almeida and wife Maria Rita das Neves, was a Portuguese political figure...
, inaugurated an exposition on the Liberal Revolution of 1820
Liberal Revolution of 1820
The Liberal Revolution of 1820 was a political revolution that erupted in 1820 and lasted until 1826. It was unchained via a military insurrection in the city of Porto, in northern Portugal, that quickly and peacefully spread to the rest of the country. From 1807 to 1811 Napoleonic French forces...
, in this city.
By 1957 the commandant-in-chief of the Military Region of Northern Portugal, based in Porto city, conducted a study in order to adapt the Castle of São João da Foz, at Foz do Douro
Foz do Douro
Foz do Douro is a Portuguese parish of the city and of Porto municipality. It has 12,235 inhabitants and is 3.00 km² in area. It became a parish in 1836...
parish, for a museum. However, the idea was definitively abandoned by 1970, due to the high cost of the adaptation of the building. A new location was identified in 1977, in a building in the Rua do Heroísmo, where the delegation of the former secret police PIDE/DGS
PIDE
In 1969, Marcello Caetano changed the name PIDE to DGS . The death of Salazar and the subsequent ascension of Caetano brought some attempts at democratization, in order to avoid popular insurgency against censorship, the ongoing colonial war and the general restriction of civil rights...
used to be located between the 1940s up to 1974.
In 1977, the Revolutionary Council
Revolutionary Council
Revolutionary Council may refer to:* Council of Islamic Revolution, a group of clerics and experts who chose by Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 to manage Islamic revolution of Iran and then legislate for the Interim Government of Iran...
, created after the Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
of 25 April 1974, legislated the founding of the Museu Militar do Porto. After the proper adaptation of the building and installation of all the contents, the inauguration took place in 21 March 1980 by the President of the Republic, Ramalho Eanes.
Collections
The material of the museum has two proveniences: particular offers and obsolete material from the Army, with historical relevance.The collection of miniature figure
Figurine
A figurine is a statuette that represents a human, deity or animal. Figurines may be realistic or iconic, depending on the skill and intention of the creator. The earliest were made of stone or clay...
s, displaying the evolution of soldiers since pre-history times till nowadays is the Military Museum main attraction. This collection is represented by surrounds 16,000 miniatures, proceeding from the most famous plants of European miniatures, as: Britains, CBG Mignot, Segom, Heyde, Elastolin
Elastolin
Elastolin is a trademark used by the German company O&M Hausser for the toy soldiers and other types of figures it manufactured from composite material and later from plastic....
and Lineol, among others.
The Museum also holds a room dedicated to the Revolution of January 31, 1891, the first attempt to establish a Republic in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
The museum collectin also includes several cannons and combat vehicles, from the 15th to the 20th centuries, located in the Park of Heavy Weapons and the Pavilion of Weapons. In this last space, it can also be observed the evolution of the cutting weapons and some collections of firearms.
Moreover, the Museum possesses a small thematic library available to the public.
Building
The building where the Military Museum of Porto is installed, located in the nr. 329 of the Rua do Heroísmo, at BonfimBonfim (Porto)
Bonfim is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Porto. It has a population of 28,578 inhabitants and a total area of 3.05 km²....
parish, was initially destined to the habitation of D. Maria Coimbra, and was built by the end of 19th century. It is a characteristic construction of that period. During the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, it lodged Spanish nuns, and, by 1948, the building was bought by the Portuguese State by 450,000 escudos
Portuguese escudo
The escudo was the currency of Portugal prior to the introduction of the Euro on 1 January 1999 and its removal from circulation on 28 February 2002. The escudo was subdivided into 100 centavos....
(equivalent to approx. 2,250 euros) to install the secret police in Porto, the PIDE
PIDE
In 1969, Marcello Caetano changed the name PIDE to DGS . The death of Salazar and the subsequent ascension of Caetano brought some attempts at democratization, in order to avoid popular insurgency against censorship, the ongoing colonial war and the general restriction of civil rights...
.