The Costume Museum - São Bras de Alportel

This museum is housed in a late-19th century mansion that belonged to a wealthy cork industrialist. As well as the examples of typical Algarve costumes from the 19th and 20th centuries, the museum has several sections with permanent exhibitions, one of the highlights being the section dedicated to cork. Here, visitors can learn how the cork industry marked the economic development of the municipality of São Brás de Alportel in the early years of the 20th century. The entire history of cork and the processes related to this noble and natural material, from the moment it is harvested from the cork oak to its preparation and possible uses, can be discovered here. The Costume Museum also houses a number of other interesting exhibits related to São Brás de Alportel's industrial and pre-industrial past, including a collection of various types of animal-drawn vehicles that were used for a range of purposes, such as travel, leisure and wor