Espaço Memória is now Open!
For generations, the Tavares family has lived alongside gold, not only as a craft, but as a reflection of culture, identity and memory.
Following the legacy of Virgílio Tavares, brothers Miguel and Simão dedicated their lives to understanding and preserving the meaning behind Portuguese jewellery. Over time, they gathered a remarkable collection shaped by tradition, devotion and everyday life.
Today, that legacy is reimagined in Espaço Memória. An invitation to experience the quiet richness of Portuguese Popular Gold through objects that reveal both personal and collective histories. Each piece carries a story shaped by time, craftsmanship and symbolism. Some speak of celebration, others of faith, protection or belonging. Not everything is revealed at once. This is a place to be discovered slowly, where every detail invites a closer look.
In preserving these objects, the Tavares family continues a story that connects heritage with the present, and carries it forward into the future.
The collection now on display encompasses all types of Portuguese Folk Gold, from earrings, hoops, earrings, necklaces, medals, brooches, bracelets, watch chains and rings, mostly consisting of pieces from the first half of the 19th century, although there is also a cross from the beginning of the previous century. The pieces bear the marks of the important goldsmithing traditions of the city of Porto and goldsmiths from Gondomar, Guimarães and Braga.
Espaço Memória is now Open!
Come visit us every Saturdays at 10 am
Registration required.
Payment of €20 upon registration.
Includes the 100th Anniversary Book.
Maximum of 10 participants.
Approximate duration: 30 to 45 minutes.
Group bookings available at times to be determined.
No photography is permitted.
In addition to the folk ornaments, the collection also includes pieces from the beginning of the last century, curiosities, drawings, molds and other objects that Tavares used in his workshop for decades, and which he preserved as a memory of the house and a cultural legacy.
A collection of goldsmithing put together by someone from Póvoa de Varzim would not be complete without pieces used by the fishing community of this city, as a display of the adornments used and as a tribute to the men of the sea of this land.
Passing through this space and observing the collection constitutes a recognition of the perseverance and understanding of the importance of collecting and preserving fundamental typologies of traditional Portuguese goldsmithing demonstrated by the brothers Miguel and Simão Tavares. It also represents the Tavares Family’s commitment to preserving a material heritage of the past that is relevant to building an intangible heritage of the present and the future, valuing not only the memory of the house but also the collective memory of Portuguese folk goldsmithing.
Select a time and date and come and visit us at our flagship store. We have the best jewellery specialists to help you with your every need.
R. da Junqueira 54 – 4490-519, Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal
Opening hours
Mon – Sat 9:30-12:30 / 14:30-18:30
When placed on your finger, the ring should be comfortable so that it does not fall off, but loose enough to slide off when you want to take it off.
The size of your finger varies depending on the time of day and the weather. To obtain the best results, measure your finger:
— At the end of the day or when your finger is warm (fingers are thinner early in the morning or when the weather is cold);
— Measure your finger size 3 to 4 times to avoid possible reading errors.
To obtain more accurate measurements, you should avoid using string or paper to measure your finger size, as these materials can stretch or twist, distorting the actual measurement. If you are ordering from abroad, you can determine your ring size according to your country, using the table above, matching the Portuguese size with the international size.
Print the page here and check the scale with a ruler. Place one of your rings over the circles. The inner diameter of the ring must match the circle.
Note: Images on screen may not be to scale, please print the page.
