Its primary goal is to introduce significant contemporary artists to a wide audience. This effort helps strengthen local community ties and spurs discussions about art’s relationship with the environment, a theme deeply rooted in Serralves’ context.

The museum frequently changes its exhibits, featuring both monographic and thematic presentations. These include works from established and emerging artists, as well as pieces from the Serralves Collection. The Serralves Villa and Park serve as exceptional venues for special exhibitions, commissions, and displays. They also host traveling exhibitions in partnership with various cultural entities in Portugal and internationally.

In addition to visual arts, the museum has a dynamic program that includes cinema, contemporary dance, music, and performance. These events take place in the Auditorium and other museum spaces. The Auditorium and the Museum Library are also venues for public interactions, including conversations, lectures, and symposia. These events focus on contemporary artistic and cultural topics, inviting public participation in discussions and debates.

History

History

The Serralves Villa was commissioned by Carlos Alberto Cabral, the 2nd Count of Vizela, in Porto. Originally a private residence, it was built on Cabral’s family’s summer residence grounds. Construction spanned from 1925 to 1944, and the villa represents a prime example of Art Deco architecture.

In 1996, the Villa was designated a Building of Public Interest. By 2012, it gained the status of National Monument. French architect Charles Siclis and Portuguese José Marques da Silva were key in the Villa’s design. Carlos Alberto Cabral, Jacques Émile Ruhlmann, and Alfred Porteneuve also contributed. Renowned European designers like Ruhlman and René Lalique enriched the interior.

Carlos Cabral and Blanche Daubin lived in the Villa from 1944 for a few years. In 1955, they sold it to Delfim Ferreira with a no-alteration clause. Much of the original furniture was auctioned off.

In 1987, the Portuguese State acquired the estate for a modern art museum. The Villa opened for public exhibitions in 1987. In 1999, the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira, was inaugurated. Siza supervised the Villa’s restoration in 2004. The Villa now hosts exhibitions and artists’ projects, and its architecture and design are definitely worth a visit.

Architecture

Serralves Park’s history begins in 1923 when Carlos Alberto Cabral, 2nd Count of Vizela, inherited Quinta do Lordelo, then a family summer home. The park’s evolution encompasses three periods: the late 19th-century garden contours, Jacques Gréber’s design for Serralves Villa, and the landscaping for the Museum of Contemporary Art.

The original garden at Quinta do Lordelo reflected late Victorian styles, with organically shaped flower-beds and ornamental species. Initially smaller, the estate expanded to 18 hectares by the 1940s. This expansion included acquiring Quinta do Mata-Sete, which had buildings like a hunting pavilion and an olive press.

Carlos Alberto Cabral, inspired by the 1925 Paris International Exhibition, commissioned Jacques Gréber in 1932. Gréber’s design blended Art Deco and classical elements, influenced by French 16th and 17th-century gardens. He integrated existing features like the lake and farming structures.

Gréber’s creation, the Serralves Garden, became a prominent example of early 20th-century Portuguese gardening art. It was a unique private landscape architecture project in Portugal at the time.

In the early 1950s, the park was sold to Delfim Ferreira, Count of Riba d’Ave. The park’s structure has largely remained the same since. After the Portuguese State acquired it in 1986, landscape architect Teresa Andresen led restoration efforts. The park opened to the public, gradually revealing its historical and artistic significance.

Serralves Park in Porto stretches over 18 hectares. Designed by architect Jacques Greber in the 1930s, it features formal gardens, woodlands, and a traditional farm.

Visitors can explore various circuits with different routes and durations. The park also showcases about 200 tree and shrub species including native and exotic ornamental plants. Sculptures from the Serralves Collection are also on permanent display throughout the park.

The park also includes a Treetop Walk. The walkway was a collaborative effort by architects Carlos Castanheira and Álvaro Siza Vieira reflecting a commitment to environmental awareness and nature conservation. It’s supported by the Serralves Foundation and the Portuguese State Environmental Fund. This initiative has gained recognition nationally and internationally.

The House of Cinema, also known as Casa do Cinema Manoel de Oliveira, started with an exhibition in 2008 by the Serralves Foundation. This event celebrated the 100th birthday of filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira. Following this, a protocol was signed on April 20, 2009, between the Serralves Foundation and Oliveira himself.

This protocol formalized the deposit of Oliveira’s extensive documentary collection. He had amassed this over eighty years. It also outlined the plans for establishing the Casa do Cinema Manoel de Oliveira. Renowned architect Álvaro Siza was tasked with designing the building. Additionally, António Preto was responsible for developing the museum’s program.

The project was publicly unveiled on November 15, 2013, detailing the Casa do Cinema’s objectives and structure. It also explained its integration within the Foundation’s organization. Construction began in January 2018, the Casa de Cinema Manoel de Oliveira was officially inaugurated on June 24, 2019. This marked the culmination of a decade-long effort to celebrate Oliveira’s cinematic legacy.

Architecture