Portuguese Music Museum
On 19thcentury it was common to built small palaces in Romantic Architecture Style. This was a main point on Cascais landscape.
Jorge O’Neil had sold the building which is today Museum ofMuseum of Castro Guimarães Counts. In 1918 he decided to build in Monte Estoril the Torre de São Patrício (Tower of Saint Patrício). It is known today as Casa VErdaddes de Faria (Verdades Farias’ House). The original project was designed by Raul Lino. Inside the palace the walls have stained glass and tiles from 17thcentury.
In 1942 the house is bought by Enrique Mantero Belard and he demanded some changes on the house and at the garden. His wife, Gertrudes Verdades, was in love with art and she promoted meetings and art workshops. Thanks to these meetings she was able to support some artists.
Once his wife passed away, Mantero Belard wrote his last will leaving all his belongings to many social institutions such as the City Council. He asked to be built the Museum House and the Public Garden of Verdades de Faria.
In 1981 the Museum bought some musical instruments which belonged to the musician Michel Giacometti. After this acquisition it made sense to create a music program for the Museum and this was the official beginning of Regional Portuguese Music which was approved in 1987.
In 1994 the famous Portuguese compositor Fernando Graça (who was also responsible for the Investigation about Michel Giacometti) left all his belongings to the Portuguese Music Museum.
Nowadays the Museum has a very important role on Music Investigation, conservation, documentation, communication and education. It has several temporary exhibitions, concerts and some programs to promote the artists like the Lopes-Graça Composition Prize (Prémio de Lopes-Graça para Composição).