The Natural History Museum of Sintra

Only a 10-minute walk from Casa do Valle, in the Historical Center, this museum is the newest addition to the many museums of Sintra. I went for the first time today, though it opened in August already. Like many of the local museums, this was first a private collection of the couple Miguel and Fernanda Barbosa, who for 50 years collected, traded and bought 90% of the pieces that now are a part of the museum's collection.

My first reaction was that the museum is attractive, modern and organized. Street level hosts the special exhibition and the lower level the permanent exhibition. This is where you can see the only specimen in the world of a species of flying reptiles, the Braseodactylus sp, or see a simulation of the big-bang. There are many recreations, but even more of the REAL things: dinosaurs eggs and nests, bones of all kinds, skulls...

What made it interesting to me was the fact that it was not only bones - there are parts of the exhibition dedicated to minerals, fossils, and even the origin of universe. The significance of the museum is due to the quality and rarity of many of its exhibits, from all over the world (f.ex the dinosaurs eggs from Gobi Desert, China, and fragments of tha Nantan meteorite that fell in the 16th century).

The museum is of interest to all, from school-age children onward - it is free and can be seen quite quickly - or you can easily spend a few hours! More information on the Sintra site,
http://www.cm-sintra.pt/NoticiaDisplay.aspx?ID=5583