This beautifully maintained museum, 300m east of the town square, is a labour of love for the curator and Friends of the Museum. It’s housed in a former cork magnate’s mansion (stunning in itself – note the original kitchen). The building displays an ever-changing exhibition of local costumes, of which there are 15,000 in the museum store – it's Portugal's second-largest collection. The displays have spread from the mansion into the outhouses, where you'll find a fascinating presentation on the local cork industry (including a nine-minute film), a huge collection of old carriages, an art gallery and a cafe. The gallery holds regular music events, including fado (traditional song) performances, and every last Tuesday of the month a special tour takes visitors into the costume store.
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