The Dr. Joaquim Manso Museum, in Sítio da Nazaré, reopened to the public after eight years closed. The decision stems from a bet made by the executive led by Serafim António, president of the municipal council, who argues that Nazaré cannot be known only for its waves. The local leader highlighted the approximately three million visitors that Forte São Miguel Arcanjo received over the past decade, emphasizing the need for visitors to take "more from Nazaré" than the image associated with surfing.
The museum's collection includes traditional vessels, fishing gear, costumes, photography, painting, and archaeological pieces, a heritage that Serafim António classified as fundamental for the preservation and study of Portuguese maritime culture. Nicole Costa, the museum's director, explained that during the closure, the team continued to work: spaces were moved, research was conducted, and the exhibition now on display to the public was prepared.
The reopening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Culture, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, and included a visit to the museum, performances by Rancho Tá-Mar da Nazaré, and a formal session. The date was not chosen at random: September 8th, which is the municipal holiday, the day of Our Lady of Nazaré, and coincides with the 50th anniversary of the museum's opening, in 1976.
The minister highlighted the double role of the museum: to remind the people of Nazaré of their own history, and to show the thousands of visitors attracted by the waves that there is much more to discover. She left two challenges for the local leader: that no child from Nazaré finishes compulsory education without visiting the museum, and that the message continues to be conveyed that "the greatest asset of Nazaré is its people, its history, and its stories."
