ÉVORA, 31 December 2025 — The Alentejo and Ribatejo Regional Tourism Board has officially signed the Construction Consignment Agreement for the “Renovation of the Museum of Handicrafts and Design – Welcome Centre of Évora – European Capital of Culture 2027”.
This strategic project is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) under the RE-C04-i02 programme – Restoration and Preservation of Public Museums, Monuments and Palaces, with a total investment of €1.5 million. The construction contract was awarded to the Vestígios & Lugares Construções, Lda and Antero Santos & Santos, Lda Consortium for €1,042,470.39, with an estimated completion period of seven months. The architectural project was developed by Jorge Lourenço and José Timóteo, Lda.
Following the signing, the President of the Regional Tourism Board, Dr José Santos, addressed the media, underlining the long-term significance of the new facility:
“This project was part of the Évora 2027 bid, submitted through the BitBook. It was one of the elements that supported the city’s successful designation as European Capital of Culture. The Welcome Centre will be the main gateway for visitors, designed to the highest European standards”, he stated.
The centre is intended to serve a dual purpose — both supporting the Évora 2027 cultural programme and becoming a permanent regional tourism hub.
This will be a space dedicated to promoting and selling tourism experiences across the Alentejo. Visitors in Évora will be able to book a wine tasting on the Vicentina Coast, a hot-air balloon ride in the Baixo Alentejo, or a cultural activity in Marvão. It will be a dynamic, multi-purpose space, with exhibitions, book presentations, and immersive experiences showcasing the richness of our region”, he explained.
Located near Évora’s Church of São Francisco and the Chapel of Bones, the building occupies a strategic area with high foot traffic, which reinforces its visibility and potential impact.
“It is arguably the most visited area per square metre in the entire Alentejo. This centre will help us connect visitors to all 47 municipalities in the region and encourage them to explore beyond Évora”, he added.
Concerning the previous Museum of Handicrafts, Dr Santos clarified:
“The museum, as originally conceived, changed fundamentally when design was incorporated into its scope. While the original curatorial vision was diluted, the value of handicrafts remains essential to our strategy. The collection was restored and will remain on display in the new Welcome Centre, integrated into a broader promotional narrative”.
The Regional Tourism Board has also reinforced its focus on handicrafts through international presence:
“Since the beginning of my term, we have participated in the International Handicrafts Fair — something that had never been done before. We brought over 30 artisans from the Alentejo, reflecting our commitment to preserving and promoting this key cultural product”, he noted.
The Welcome Centre is expected to open prior to the start of Évora 2027, and it will play a central role in both the national and international communication strategies. After the European Capital of Culture year, the facility will continue to operate under the broader identity of Alentejo Tourism.
“From 1 January 2028 onwards, we will transition from the ‘Évora 27’ branding to a visual identity representing the whole Alentejo. Still, from day one, the centre will already speak for the entire region — it’s a doorway to the Alentejo for Europe and the world”, concluded Dr Santos.
