The Museu de Alberto Sampaio offers several very appealing shadow theatres that are used to tell the stories linked to the spaces and to the collections of the Museum, and also the stories and legends of Guimarães.
And thus, Guimarães was born
In this shadow theatre, we explain where and how Guimarães was born, we present personalities such as Mumadona Dias and Henry of Burgundy and we show the roles they played in this important process.
Target public: Students aged 6 to 12
Duration: 30 minutes
Maximum no. of participants: 60
Legend of Dom João I’s sneeze
When he was in Guimarães, after having taken the Lower Town, and already put up in the Dom Prior’s house, king Dom João I received the news that the Castilian king was about to invade Portugal. According to legend, when he was about to enter the battlefield, he had a sneeze, which he took as a sign of ill omen. Afraid of being defeated in this great battle, which became known as the Battle of Aljubarrota, the king asked Saint Mary of the Olive Tree for help. Come and find out what happened!
Target public: Students aged 3 to 12
Duration: 20 minutes
Maximum no. of participants: 60
Legend of Saint Catherine of Penha
This shadow theatre revolves around the name of the hill of Penha or hill of Saint Catherine of Penha and it tells us the story of Catherine, a sweet shepherd who saved this hill from the terrible attack of Ataúlfo and of his army. With lots of courage and a shrewd plan, Catherine became a true hero!
Target public: Students aged 3 to 12
Duration: 20 minutes
Maximum no. of participants: 60
Legend of the olive tree
This shadow theatre tells us the story of one of the most emblematic and oldest Squares in Guimarães. The story revolves around the olive tree that gives the name to the Square, to the Church that exists there and to the Saint that is worshiped inside it: Saint Mary of the Olive Tree.
Target public: Students aged 3 to 12
Duration: 20 minutes
Maximum no. of participants: 60
Legend of the cutler
This is the story of a talented cutler from Creixomil who, experiencing difficult times and eager to succeed in life, decided to go to Brazil. There, he got to work, but, no matter how hard he tried, he wasn’t able to make perfect pieces. Come and find out why!
Target public: Students aged 3 to 12
Duration: 20 minutes
Maximum no. of participants: 60
Legend of Egas Moniz
In this theatre the story goes back to the origins of our nationality and the main character is Egas Moniz, who, according to tradition, was the preceptor of our first king, Dom Afonso Henriques. We will (re)discover how he managed to solve the siege that Afonso VII, King of Lion and Castille and our monarch’s cousin, laid to the Guimarães Castle. It is a history of courage and astuteness in a time when men ruled their life by honour!
Target public: Students aged 3 to 12
Duration: 20 minutes
Maximum no. of participants: 60
Legend of the Holy Head
In this theatre we tell a very curious story that revolves around a very bizarre reliquary and a rabid female dog and whose protagonist is Dom João I, the king of Fond Memory.
Target public: Students aged 3 to 12
Duration: 20 minutes
Maximum no. of participants: 60
Legend of Saint Margaret
This shadow theatre tells us one more legend connected to Guimarães: the amazing story of the brave Saint Margaret, once worshipped at the Igreja de São Miguel or of Santa Margarida, next to the castle.
Target public: Students aged 3 to 12
Duration: 20 minutes
Maximum no. of participants: 60
Enamoroured hands
On 14 February, Saint Valentine’s Day, the museum takes the chance to present the story of two Guimarães arts, full of tradition, that talk about love! Through this shadow theatre, we tell, in a magical and poetic way, the story of the “cantarinha das prendas” and of the Guimarães embroidery, which can be executed in the “Lenços dos Namorados”.
Target public: Students aged 3 to 12
Duration: 20 minutes
Maximum no. of participants: 60
