The Viana Costume Museum, the Museu do Traje, is a museum of the traditional costumes of Viana and the Alto Minho on Praça da República in Viana do Castelo, opened by the municipality in 1997 in the former branch of the Bank of Portugal. Its permanent exhibition, "A Lã e o Linho no Traje do Alto Minho", shows how wool and linen were used to make the costumes of the region.
The costumes of Viana, such as the lavradeira, the bride and the mordoma, are worn today at the festivities of the city.
What to see at the Viana Costume Museum
- Costumes: the traditional dress of women and men of Viana and the Alto Minho, and the history of how they were made.
- Tools: the tools used to spin, weave and embroider the costumes.
- Gold room: a room in the old bank vault with traditional gold jewellery donated by the Viana goldsmith Manuel Freitas, open since 2011.
- The building: a building of 1954 to 1958 in the style of the Estado Novo, with two reliefs by Roque Gameiro showing fishing and farming.
History of the Viana Costume Museum
- 1954 to 1958: the Bank of Portugal building is built on Praça da República.
- 1996: the bank branch closes, and the municipality buys the building.
- 1997: the Costume Museum opens.
- July 2011: the gold room opens in the former vault.
Visiting the Viana Costume Museum
- Location: the museum is on Praça da República, in the historic centre, next to the Misericórdia and the old town hall.
- Opening times: the Viana do Castelo Municipality publishes current opening times and prices.
Places to visit in Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Viana do Castelo & Santa Luzia
Gil Eannes Ship
Eiffel Bridge of Viana do Castelo
Viana Costume Museum
Fort of Santiago da Barra
History of Viana do Castelo
Visiting Viana do Castelo