Covilhã inaugurates new Museum with 600 pieces

Wednesday, 22 February 2012 00:00

The City of Covilhã (Centro) inaugurated a Museum of Sacred Art with a collection of some 600 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, jewelry and documents, among other objects. The museum is in Casa Maria Jose Alçada, a 1921 building by architect Raul Lino (author of the project Tivoli Theatre in Lisbon), near the public garden in the center of Covilhã. An olive tree, planted symbolically at the entrance area, marks the beginning of the tour of the Museum of Sacred Art. The exhibits were collected by the priests of the churches and will occupy an area of 850 square meters, with the route organized according to the seven Catholic sacraments. Covering a period from the twelfth century to the twentieth century, the collection now consists of sacred images, altars, shrines, altars, crucifixes, books and rare documents, jewelry, furniture, paintings, religious objects and vestments. One of the important aspects is a sculpture of Christ crucified, the eighteenth century, polychromed wood, measuring 2.20 m x 1.85 m. Besides the permanent exhibition halls, the Museum of Sacred Art Covilhã has a visiting exhibition room, an indoor garden and a shop. For images click here and here.