Porto and Its Museums

Porto and Its MuseumsA lecture by Paula Silva
October 20 (Tuesday), 6 p.m.

Porto is Portugal’s second city, right after Lisbon, and is classified as World Heritage Site since 1996. Porto has been permanently inhabited for over 2500 years, and its evolution was strictly connected with the river Douro and theAtlantic Ocean. Nowadays the main aim for the city authorities is to preserve Porto’s heritage and its identity for next generations. The Museum of the City shows this reality. It is a multicentre Museum, comprising different centres, intended to be strongly connected with relevant places or buildings, as well as with their urban and social surroundings. An itinerary relating the different centres will lead visitors to understand the evolution and relevance of the city.

Based on this reality, people responsible are now designing a project with the purpose of adjusting this concept of Museum of the City, not only by qualifying the current structures, both improving the welcome services and creating infrastructures to invest in educational services, but also by revising the narrative and expository discourse, as well as by opening other museums considered vital to offer a comprehensive perception of the City, namely the interpretation of Porto’s World Heritage Historical Centre, and of the city’s urban evolution.

Paula Silva – architect, author of numerous articles and publications devoted to the protection of heritage. Juror in architectural competitions in Portugal and foreign countries. In years 2006-2007 - Regional Director of the Porto for IPPAR (Portuguese Institute of Architectural Heritage), 2008-2013 - Director of Cultural Goods and Regional Director Northern Culture. Currently responsible for the CMP (Porto City Council) - Sector Museums and Cultural Heritage.

The entrance is free.
The lecture in English with Polish translation
The Academy of Heritage Partner: Fundacja Kronenberga przy Citi Handlowy