The best museums Portugal

This is the new Museum of Contemporary Art in Castelo Branco. Opened in 2013, the oddly shaped building hosts a new exhibition every year from early November. The entrance is hard to find, as despite the width of the 8 doors, it looks like an underground car park entrance. It is located on the right below the roller skating track. Professional staff. Guided tours available on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Museu municipal (Rua da Romeira 19. ✆ +351 285 253 978. 200 m east of the castle. Open Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm, and from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 4 pm on weekends. Free entrance). It presents elements from the prehistoric, Roman and Moorish eras.

Museu árabe (Largo da Mouraria. Open Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Free admission). In the heart of the old Arab quarter, this museum presents beautiful pieces from the Moorish occupation, including a beautiful 14th century well, ceramic and crystal objects and a hand of Fatma.

Museu Alberto Gordillo (Rua da Vista Alegre. +351 285 253 579. www.cm-moura.pt - Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm). Housed in a 19th century building, this museum displays more than 200 pieces of jewelry and carved gems. It aims to show the processes of jewelry making of which Alberto Gordillo (sculptor and jeweler born in 1943 in Moura) is one of the main pioneers. The visit is not long, but the pieces on display can be admired in their every corner. The explanatory panels are in English and Portuguese. Do not hesitate to ask for more information to the people at the reception who will be happy to answer your questions.

Museu do azeite - Lagar de Varas do Fojo (Rua S. João de Deus +351 285 253 978. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Free entrance). An interesting museum that presents the old methods of olive oil production, before industrialization. Its manual olive oil press is in an excellent state of preservation. It was in operation until 1941. Photos on the walls show the process. It is a pity that the guided tours are only in Portuguese.

Museu do medronho (+351 266 637 044. www.museudomedronho.pt / [email protected]. Open from 10am to 7pm from Wednesday to Sunday. Closed on Monday and Tuesday. Admission €2). In Portugal, when it's time to get out the booze, it's often a small glass of medronho that you're offered: a strong and fragrant brandy from the strawberry tree. At least in the south of the country, because it is in the hot and dry lands that this shrub acclimatizes best. The medronho museum exhibits the cultivation techniques of the arbutus, its life cycle, its economy and its ecological value. The establishment is an exhibition, a distillery, a store and a tasting stand. There is also liqueur and even gin from the strawberry tree! Here's to you..

Located in Vila Nova de Foz Côa near the archaeological park, this estate produces Ramos Pinto Port wines. Since 1990, it has belonged to the French group Roederer. There are 150 hectares of vines located between 110 and 340 metres above sea level that descend towards the Côa valley. It is the first estate to be planted on a steep slope and in plots, with only one grape variety per plot. During the visit, you can stop at the archaeological museum before enjoying a tasting. A breathtaking view of the vineyard and the valley!

Beautiful museum that takes you to discover the traditional activities of the inhabitants. The permanent exhibition "O oceano, a nossa terra" (the ocean, our land) presents the history of the area from Mesolithic remains to the present day. Videos, photos, and representations of objects and utensils help discover the life of the sea, the land and those who depend on it. It is also a community space where the population participates in different cultural projects

This museum aims to show how people living in the region have built up a close relationship with the sea century after century. You'll find a mix of explanatory texts, ancient and authentic artifacts and reconstructions. It's a real journey back in time, through the centuries to the present day. How did the locals fish, what were their traditions and rituals? The museum is located within the walls of Fort Santiago.