Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis (Soares dos Reis National Museum), Porto

The Soares dos Reis National Museum (Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis) in Porto is a prominent cultural institution housed in the Carrancas Palace. Established in 1833, it holds the distinction of being the first national museum in Portugal dedicated primarily to showcasing Portuguese art. The museum is named after António Soares dos Reis, a renowned Portuguese sculptor whose works are a highlight of the collection.

The museum was originally founded as the Museum Portuense by King Peter IV in 1833. Initially, it was located in the Convent of Santo António in central Porto, exhibiting religious art confiscated from convents and artworks expropriated from the absolutist supporters of Miguel I, who had opposed Peter IV. Throughout the 19th century, the museum expanded its collection, including significant acquisitions like the Allen Museum (Museu Allen) in 1850, a private collection of British port wine exporter John Francis Allen, which remained a branch of the museum until 1905.

In 1911, the museum officially became known as the Soares dos Reis National Museum following the acquisition of works by its namesake sculptor. In 1942, the museum moved to its current location in Carrancas Palace, a former residence of the Moraes e Castro family, commonly referred to as "Carrancas" (scowlers/frowners) due to the perceived stern demeanor of its past inhabitants. This relocation provided the museum with expanded and modernized spaces, thanks to renovations by architect Fernando Távora.

Today, the Soares dos Reis National Museum boasts a vast collection primarily focused on Portuguese art from the 19th and 20th centuries, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, metalwork, and ceramics. Notable artists represented in the collection include painters Domingos Sequeira, Vieira Portuense, Auguste Roquemont, Miguel Ângelo Lupi, António Carvalho de Silva Porto, Marques de Oliveira, Henrique Pousão, and Júlio Resende, as well as sculptors Soares dos Reis, Augusto Santo, António Teixeira Lopes, and Rodolfo Pinto do Couto, among many others. The museum continues to be a key institution in preserving and celebrating Portuguese cultural heritage.

Why You Should Visit:
The staff is friendly and there is a nice café, a courtyard garden, a gift shop, an auditorium, modern bathrooms, and a space for temporary exhibitions.
The upper floor has some striking artwork housed in beautiful rooms, while the overall sense is of discovery of the richness and depth of this national collection.

Tip:
After your visit, try the museum café – it has nice coffee & food at very good prices. The garden is also worth a visit, weather permitting.