Museu Maçónico Português, museu em Lisboa
The Museu Maçónico Português is located in Lisbon's Misericórdia neighborhood and presents the history of freemasonry in Portugal through objects and documents. The museum occupies the ground floor of a historic palace and contains ritual clothing, ceremonial tools, columns, and a black-and-white mosaic floor designed to evoke an ancient temple.
Freemasonry arrived in Portugal around 1727 but faced persecution from the Inquisition and authorities for centuries. The palace was closed in 1935 with many objects destroyed or stolen, until the organization recovered the building after the 1974 revolution.
The museum displays symbols and ritual objects that hold meaning for freemasons, such as aprons, swords, and tools that represent their values. Visitors can observe how these items reflect the organization's role in society and what principles guided their work.
The museum is open to all visitors on weekday afternoons and welcomes both members of the organization and the general public. It is centrally located in Lisbon, making it easy to reach and simple to include in a walking tour of the city.
Many objects on display were painstakingly gathered from various sources after 1974, including archives from the former secret police, the National Library, and government attics. The collection reflects the effort required to reconstruct the memory of a persecuted organization.
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