Romantic Museum of Quinta da Macieirinha is located in one of the most stunning gardens of the city, the so-called Crystal Palace Gardens (Jardins do Palacio de Cristal), neighboring on a domed structure and an auditorium. The museum opened in 1972, and it is one of the most representative museums in Porto. It is sheltered in a 19th century mansion which tries to recreate, by means of its inner exhibits, the air of the city during the age of romanticism. The museum is one of the branches of the City Museum, on a par with the Port Wine Museum and Casa do Infante.
The aim is to piece out the life of the 19th century aristocracy, and the venue chosen to this purpose is ideal: a historical building which used to belong to Antonio Ferreira Pinto Basto and which was, at a certain moment in time, the residence of King Charles Albert of Piedmont, during the short period when he was exiled in Portugal (the king actually died here on July the 28th, 1849). The building was bought by the city of Porto in the mid 20th century, and since then it had been sheltering sundry paradigmatic rooms meant to follow closely the atmosphere of the century: a Ballroom, a Dressing Room, a Billiard Room, a Dining Room, a Guest Room, all trying to revive the memory of the lifestyle of the Portuguese bourgeoisie and, in particular of King Charles Albert.
Holders of Passe Porto (Porto Card / Tour Pass) can enter for free at the Romantic Museum of Quinta da Macieirinha.