Cities
Portugal Guimarães Norte Museum

Museum Martins Sarmento

About

The Museum Martins Sarmento is one of Guimarães’s most important cultural institutions, dedicated to preserving the archaeological and ethnographic heritage of northern Portugal. Founded in the late 19th century and housed in the former Convent of São Domingos, the museum reflects the pioneering work of archaeologist Francisco Martins Sarmento, whose excavations at Citânia de Briteiros and Castro de Sabroso revealed the richness of the region’s Iron Age settlements. Its atmospheric cloisters and stone galleries display an impressive collection of artifacts, including ceramics, tools, sculptures, and everyday objects that offer insight into ancient life in the Minho. The museum also preserves medieval architectural elements and a notable library that continues Sarmento’s legacy of research and scholarship. Blending history, archaeology, and quiet monastic architecture, the Museum Martins Sarmento provides a compelling journey into the deep roots of Portuguese culture.

Guimarães Portugal
Museum Martins Sarmento
Location

Museum Martins Sarmento is located in the historic centre of Guimarães, northern Portugal, on Rua Paio Galvão within the former Convento de São Domingos, a short walk from Largo do Toural and Praça de Santiago. Housed in a Gothic cloister building that blends Neo-Byzantine and Brutalist architecture, this archaeological museum showcases prehistoric artifacts from local sites like São Romão de Carvalho and Citânia de Briteiros. Nearby landmarks include Paço dos Duques de Bragança palace, Museu de Alberto Sampaio, Castelo de Guimarães, Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, Plataforma das Artes cultural center, Torre da Alfândega, and the medieval streets leading to lively squares like Praça da Oliveira, making it a key stop in Portugal's UNESCO-listed "cradle city".

Museu de Alberto Sampaio Museu de Alberto Sampaio Museum Centro Internacional das Artes José de Guimarães Centro Internacional das Artes José de Guimarães Museum Museum Casa da Memória de Guimarães Museum Casa da Memória de Guimarães Museum Live Science Center of Guimarães Live Science Center of Guimarães Museum Centro de Artes e Ofícios dos Fornos da Cruz de Pedra Centro de Artes e Ofícios dos Fornos da Cruz de Pedra Museum Teatro Jordão Teatro Jordão Theatre São Mamede Theater São Mamede Theater Theatre Cineclube de Guimarães Cineclube de Guimarães Cinema Pavilhão Multiusos de Guimarães Pavilhão Multiusos de Guimarães Theatre Castelo de Guimarães Castelo de Guimarães Castle Paço dos Duques de Bragança Paço dos Duques de Bragança Museum Palácio Vila Flor Palácio Vila Flor Palace Torre dos Almadas Torre dos Almadas Museum St. Peter's Basilica St. Peter's Basilica Church Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira Church Igreja de São Miguel do Castelo Igreja de São Miguel do Castelo Historical Landmark Igreja e Oratórios de Nossa Senhora da Consolação e Santos Passos Igreja e Oratórios de Nossa Senhora da Consolação e Santos Passos Church Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo Church Church of Saint Francis Guimarães Church of Saint Francis Guimarães Church Convento das Dominicas Convento das Dominicas Church Igreja de São Dâmaso Igreja de São Dâmaso Church Igreja da Misericórdia Guimarães Igreja da Misericórdia Guimarães Church Basílica de São Torcato Basílica de São Torcato Basilica Padrão do Salado Padrão do Salado Historical Landmark Praça de São Tiago Praça de São Tiago Square Muralhas de Guimarães Muralhas de Guimarães Historical Landmark Monte de Santa Catarina Monte de Santa Catarina Observatory Largo do Toural Largo do Toural Historical Landmark Jardins do Palácio Vila Flor Jardins do Palácio Vila Flor Park Parque de Lazer de Vila Nova de Sande Parque de Lazer de Vila Nova de Sande Zoo Casa das Rótulas Casa das Rótulas Historical Landmark