I’d noticed this small family photography store in Tavira, Portugal a few years ago. There was a book in their window showing the history of photography in Tavira and the Andrade families direct involvement from the early 1900’s. Sadly it was in Portuguese so I didn’t look any further.
I was pleasantly surprised to see they had moved to a larger space which now incorporates a very well presented Photography Museum. Split over two floors, the ground floor covers the beginning’s of early photography and its first studios in Tavira.
The display cases are very well lit, and the English language translations are very good and easy to follow when they become a little less accurate.
Several drawers reveal further photographs and some surprising archive material, mostly original with some facsimiles.
The upper floor was again very well done with large display panels, original photographs, descriptive text and archive material drawers.
This catalogue of painted backdrops was great, although a facsimile, I’ve not seen one before.
There were quite a few cameras, lenses and equipment on display ranging from Dry plate through to modern film. There was even a small working darkroom.
There was still the original book in Portuguese alongside another later version with far more photographs but at 75 Euros was a little too much for my pocket. So I went for the smaller bilingual fifteen euro book instead with lots of historic images of Tavira.
If you are ever in the area then its well worth the 5 Euro entry fee. Pop in and support a small independent museum.
Hi there!
I just landed on your Canon Demi post on my research about half-frame cameras and the rabbit hole got me here (and a lot more fantastic posts, still digging). Cheers for posting about Portugal, I’d like to tip you on another incredible photographic museum a bit more up north, if you ever come back. It’s called Casa Estúdio Carlos Relvas, in Golegã ( http://www.casarelvas.com ) . Carlos Relvas was an “amateur” genius in many fields, specially in photography, and had built an amazing studio of steel and glass for his large format plate portraiture. From the kings to the street bums from Golegã, he photographed everyone and thousands of his plates survived abandonment and decay inside the studio for decades, until recently when all was recovered and dignified as one of the most fantastic photography studios in the world (really not exaggerating). Should you come, I’d really recommend the visit. It will be worth it. Too bad the Horse Fair is starting this weekend, but you still have time until the 13th Nov, eheheh!!!), it would be a win-win. Anyway, thank you for your excellent blog and photographic work, I’m starting to dig into the archives with much pleasure to learn new/old things and watch some beautiful darkroom B/W prints (my favourite subject). Cheers, Bruno Pires
Hello Bruno, thanks for the link, I managed to find the site but it uses Adobe Flash and a lot of the content doesn’t work but I did then search further about Carlos Relvas. Thank you. I will be in Portugal probably in April/May2023 so might try and visit.
Tony