Vila do Porto Museums and Art Galleries

(Vila do Porto, Azores, Portugal)

There is only one museum on the island of Santa Maria, and it's located in Santo Espirito. Island art is found in plenty in the handicraft boutiques in Santa Barbara, Sao Lourenco and Vila Do Porto, rather than in dedicated art galleries as such.

Most tourists who visit Vila Do Porto also spend time on other islands, each of which has one or two of its own museums. If you will be based in Vilo Do Porto for the duration of you're visit, a side trip by boat or plane to Sao Miguel or Pico is easy to arrange and can be quite rewarding.

Sao Brás Fort

Address: Rua do Museu, Santo Espirito, Santo Espirito, Azores, 9580-238, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 0296 884 844
This is the only museum located on the island of Santa Maria, and it's set a short journey east of Vila Do Porto, in the village of Santo Espirito. It features a collection of artefacts, including household items, furniture and ceramics, shedding light on the lives of Santa Maria's historic residents. The Sao Brás Fort is housed in a home that was built in the early 1900s and operates a small gift shop.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday, 09:00 to 12:30, 13:00 to 17:30
Admission: charge

Museu da Indústria Baleeira (Whaling Industry Museum)

Address: Rua do Poco, Sao Roque do Pico, Azores, 9940-361, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 0292 642 096
The Whaling Industry Museum is one of the most celebrated in the Azores. This unusual attraction can be found on the island of Pico, where it is housed in a factory that operated until 1984, the year that whaling was outlawed. This acclaimed museum features actual machines, boilers and processing equipment used in the Azores' whaling days.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday, 09:00 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 17:30; Saturday and Sunday, 09:00 to 12:30
Admission: charge

Centro de Artes e de Ciencias do Mar (Centre for Arts and Science of the Sea)

Address: Rua do Castelo, Lages do Pico, Azores, 9930-138, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 0292 679 330
Also located on Pico, this is the Azores' other main whaling museum. The permanent exhibits offer added insight into the tools and processing equipment used by whalers. However, the Centre for Arts and Science of the Sea goes further to explore the biology and natural history of whales. Occasional art exhibits and community events are staged here from time to time.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 19:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, seniors and groups

Museu Etnográfico (Ethnographic / Scrimshaw Museum)

Address: Rua José Azevedo, Horta, Faial, Azores, 9900-027, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 0292 292 327
The Scrimshaw Museum is a must-see for anyone with an interest in obscure arts. It's located on the island of Faial and belongs to the Peter's Sports Café, which adjoins the facility and offers a mixture of refreshments and Portuguese handicrafts. Scrimshaw, practiced by mariners, is the art of engraving the enormous teeth of sperm whales, and a range of historic examples are on display, together with some whale bones.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge