Doesn’t this Quinta da Boa Vista look beautiful? Here, in the heart of Maia, stands the Museu da Fundação Gramaxo. The Gramaxo family has owned this land since the 17th century. They have carefully preserved its rural past.
The property features original buildings. There is the Solar, a private house. Also, there is the Eira and Casa da Eira that display agricultural tools. You can see the Espigueiro, the Casa dos Caseiros, the Vacaria, the Casa dos Coches and the Coreto. The property’s large park has survived urban development. It holds memories of old agricultural fields.
The Gramaxo family wanted to share this special place. In 2013, they established the Fundação Gramaxo. The idea was to build a museum. Architect Álvaro Siza Vieira designed it. The museum was completed in 2021.
Inside, the Museu da Fundação Gramaxo showcases pieces from the Coleção Maria de Fátima Gramaxo. There are also spaces for temporary exhibitions. An auditorium provides a space for lectures and performances.
In 2024, Jorge Gramaxo became the director. He reopened the Fundação Gramaxo with a new artistic vision. This vision focuses on three main areas: Collecting, Arts and Architecture, Thought and Cultural Mediation and Nature and Quality of Life.
The Fundação Gramaxo aims to connect with the community. It wants to promote arts and culture. The museum’s opening on February 1st was celebrated with the Minister of Culture, Pedro Adão e Silva. The mayor of Maia, Silva Tiago, curator Maria de Fátima Lambert, and architect Álvaro Siza Vieira also attended.
The opening included the exhibition “Cores vistas de dentro para fora”. Maria de Fátima Lambert curated it. It is described as a journey through landscapes created by fifteen artists.
On February 3rd, the Fundação Gramaxo launched its public activities. There was a children’s workshop called “Estórias de Dentro para Fora”. Children were able to create images and stories. Curator Maria de Fátima and collectors Maria de Fátima and Jorge Gramaxo led special tours. Visitors explored the landscapes and deepened their imagination. A candlelight concert with violinist Radu Ungureanu ended the day.
Visitors to the Fundação Gramaxo often experience happy encounters. They engage in dialogues with the natural environment. The museum holds many stories and memories. Like the land, creativity is cultivated through workshops. These workshops are available for children, youth, and adults. There are also talks, concerts and shows.
The Fundação Gramaxo uses nature as its primary resource. It transforms agriculture and culture. It nourishes the body and spirit. This allows us to be our best as living beings and humans. Those who inhabit the Fundação Gramaxo also build it. They sustain a connection between a family’s past and a shared future. The Fundação Gramaxo is open to everyone. It offers a space for learning, inspiration and community engagement.