The Museum Nucleus of the Hospital do Espírito Santo, in Tavira, will be inaugurated on the 24th of June, at 17 pm, in Praça Zacarias Guerreiro, as part of the city's Municipal Holiday festivities.
The Nucleus, promoted by Santa Casa da Misericórdia, will open with a permanent exhibition called «Hospital do Espírito Santo: Tavira Caritativa».
According to Misericórdia, «the history of Hospital do Espírito Santo intersects, in a very significant way, with the history of Tavira in the last six centuries».
The Hospital developed, «throughout its six centuries of operation, important and crucial charitable action, in addition to the well-known hospital action», «contributing to the well-being not only of the people of Tavira, but also of the inhabitants of neighboring municipalities, as well as as well as the pilgrims who passed through here, beggars, travelers who arrived mainly by sea, among others».
It was, at the same time, «during the first centuries of operation, a strategic and rear hospital for the crusaders who fought in the battles of North Africa».
It was undoubtedly, for several centuries, “the great open door for those who suffered the most! And this action, crucial for Tavira, lasted until the end of the XNUMXth century, with its contemporary history remaining in the collective memory of all Tavira residents until today».
After the closure of the hospital, the Santa Casa da Misericórdia found itself «with an immeasurable wealth in its hands, which for years it kept as if it were a true gem».
«But a collection of this importance, and the history it contains, could not continue to be preserved without giving everyone the privilege of knowing/remembering it, with the memory of the Hospital falling into oblivion», adds Misericórdia.
Bearing in mind the importance of this legacy, the Nucleus of Heritage, Worship and Culture of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Tavira carried out a project of «research, restoration, partnerships and various testimonies, whose synergy resulted in a museum space that dignifies the memory of this hospital".
According to Santa Casa, the new Nucleus «aims to be a tourist-cultural offer for citizens and all those who visit the city of Tavira».
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