Travel through time

Filled with ancient artefacts exploring the history and way of life of past generations, Algarvian museums, those bastions of cultural memory, contain true treasures to behold.

Archaeological museums present a variety of collections: of Islamic spoils, which describe and depict life during the five-hundred year Arab occupation in the Algarve; of prehistory recalling life during that era; and of the luxurious Roman period.

The ethnographic centres display agricultural implements used in previous times, ancient craft pieces as well as traditional ceramic, typical costumes or other more decorative objects.

Traditional Algarvian marine and fishing activities are also areas which are being preserved. Various museum centres exhibit equipment and tools used for catching fish and models of various ships.  The Vila Real de Santo António museum has an exhibition of industrial archaeology and an interesting collection of over 200 printing plates used for printing early labels and packaging for tinned sardine and tuna fish products.

Invaluable collections of sacred art, from the 13^th to the 19^th Centuries, which include panels, sculpture, carved altarpieces and valuable pieces of tile work, recall the religious heritage of the region in museums, often attached to the monuments themselves.