Cultural Heritage
The Popular Art Museum is one of the more iconic works of Estado Novo (the authoritarian regime imposed in Portugal in 1933), created after the reform of the Portuguese World Exhibition's Section of Popular Life pavilion, in 1940. Projected by architects António Reis Camelo and João Simões, this Museum was a result of the program of António Ferro, the director of the Secretariat of National Propaganda. A combination of modern style with more traditional aesthetics, together with a collection of mural compositions, alluding to the different regions of the country, led to it being classified as a Monument of Public Interest in 2012. Among the team of "painters" of the building were Carlos Botelho, Eduardo Anahory, Estrela Faria, Manuel Lapa or Paulo Ferreira. The collection features ceramic objects, folk jewellery, musical instruments, basketweaving, textiles, costumes and embroidery.
In 2006, the collection was relocated in the National Museum of Ethnology, but the building and its murals remains available for visitors.
