Opened in 1976, the Dr. Joaquim Manso Museum is located since 1972 in a villa from the early twentieth century – the old summer house of Dr. Joaquim Manso, writer and journalist, founder of Diário de Lisboa newspaper –, donated to the State in 1968 for this purpose by the benefactor Amadeu Gaudêncio from the town of Nazaré. 

It is located in Nazaré, known for its fishing and ethnographic traditions, and its mission is to represent the historical-cultural identity of the region, focusing on the culture of the sea.

The acquis of this Museum was established from a first nucleus organized by a group of friends of the Nazaré Museum, in the 1960s-70s. Over time, it has been expanded through the systematic collection of objects, either through generous offers from the local community, or through purchases, deposits, legacies, donations and archaeological campaigns carried out by this institution in the 1970s.

Covering a vast array of items, the collections are arranged into sections of archaeology; visual and decorative arts, with painting, drawing, sculpture and photography subsections; and ethnography, which includes traditional sea vessels, fishing gear and Nazaré costumes.

This Museum integrates a fair deal of references to the maritime heritage of the Nazaré region, but also of national scope, showcasing not only the evolution of sea vessels and maritime equipment over time, but also the particular traits of these items' locations.