Explore historic collections, contemporary art and cultural spaces from Faro to Castro Marim

Highlighting landscapes 

Until October 4, the Faro Municipal Museum (MMF) is hosting Looking at the Landscape Through the MNAA Collections, an exhibition presented as part of the National Museum of Ancient Art (MNAA) programme.  

Spanning five centuries of history, the exhibition brings together a selection of historic works from the MNAA collection with modernist pieces from the MMF. Highlights include the celebrated Mês de Abril (Month of April) by Baltazar Gomes Figueira and Josefa de Ayala, alongside works by internationally renowned artists such as Joos de Momper II and Jules Dupré.  

The exhibition is open Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 6pm, and weekends from 10.30am to 5.30pm.   

An icon reborn 

After 16 years closed to the public, the Cork Museum in Silves has officially reopened. 

Located within the historic Fábrica do Inglês complex, the museum first opened its doors in 1999 and was recognised as one of Europe’s leading industrial museums, receiving the Luigi Micheletti Award in 2001.  

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Photo Bruno Filipe Pires/Open Media Group

Acquired in 2025 by Antrix and Carvoeiro Branco, the site is currently undergoing restoration. Despite the lengthy closure, much of the collection and its exhibition spaces remained intact, leading heritage specialists to describe it as a rare “time capsule”.  

Admission will be free throughout the summer. 

Celebrating a local legacy 

A new cultural space dedicated to the life and work of Algarve artist Carlos José Fonseca Martins has opened in Altura (Castro Marim). The recently inaugurated Fonseca Martins Art Gallery is divided into two distinct areas.  

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Galeria de Arte Fonseca Martins

The upper floor displays a selection of works available for purchase, whilst the lower floor houses a museum celebrating the artistic legacy of one of the region’s most respected contemporary artists.  

Located on Avenida 24 de Junho, the new venue aims to enrich the cultural offering of the eastern Algarve whilst promoting greater appreciation of its artistic heritage.  

The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 11am to 4.45pm, and admission is free.  

Endings and beginnings 

Casa André Pilarte, in Tavira, is hosting Where the Land Ends and the Sea Begins, an exhibition by visual artist Manuel Fernández.  

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Casa André Pilarte ©Município de Tavira

From September 15 to 30, visitors can discover the work of the Madrid-based contemporary painter, who has strong ties to the Algarve, particularly Tavira, between 10am and 1pm and 3pm and 6pm.  

His work focuses on depicting the Algarve’s landscapes and heritage in oil, watercolour, and pencil.  

Previous exhibitions include Here the Sea Ends and the Land Begins and From the Gilão to the Guadiana.  

The exhibition is supported by Tavira City Council, to which Manuel Fernández has officially donated his painting A Ponte Antiga (The Old Bridge). 

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