The president of the Pernes Parish Council, Rui Violante, told the Lusa news agency that the space, entitled “Professor Doctor Cândido Azevedo Museum Centre”, brings together pieces of diverse geographical origins, acquired by Professor Cândido Azevedo during his stay in countries such as China, Japan, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Mozambique.

“We have created a museum space here that represents a valuable asset for the parish, in line with the commitment we have been making to the recovery and enhancement of heritage,” he said.

According to Rui Violante, the collection has special historical and scientific interest because it includes objects related to the territories through which the Portuguese passed during the Age of Discoveries, including old trading posts and commercial areas in Asia.

The centre also includes approximately 500 books donated by the professor, dedicated to the Portuguese presence in Asia, which, in the mayor's view, "allows for the creation of conditions for research and study" on this historical period.

The parish council believes that the new cultural facility could contribute to "strengthening the tourist appeal of Pernes" in conjunction with other existing heritage elements, such as churches, chapels, the Clock Tower, and the Alviela riverside area, which is undergoing redevelopment.

“All of this combined allows us to attract visitors, create guided tours, and bring people to Pernes, which is the main objective,” he emphasised.

The president of the parish council also added that the museum space should be completed by the end of the year or the beginning of 2027, with the creation of the Spinning Top Museum, dedicated to a collection of approximately 1,400 spinning tops of different origins and materials, also donated by Cândido Azevedo.

The initiative seeks to value a local tradition, since Pernes is recognised as a land of artisanal production of wooden spinning tops, an activity that was at the origin of the initial contact between the professor and the parish.

Rui Violante highlighted that the professor even received proposals from other locations to house his collection, but ultimately chose Pernes due to the “receptiveness and enthusiasm” shown by the parish council from the first moment.

The mayor also framed the inauguration of the new museum centre within a broader strategy of cultural decentralisation in the municipality of Santarém, arguing that "the municipality cannot be just the city."

"Rural parishes can and should also value their history and heritage, creating small museum centres that, together, allow for the creation of visitor circuits," he stated.

Pernes already has another museum space, located in the Clock Tower and the old Town Hall, inaugurated about three years ago, which includes a tower clock considered unique in Portugal for its operation.

The inauguration of the new museum centre was also highlighted by the Mayor of Santarém, João Leite, who, in a social media post, stated that the space is the result of the "generous donation" of Professor Cândido Azevedo and his family, emphasising that the collection symbolises "five centuries of Portuguese presence in the East."

The mayor also highlighted that this inauguration takes on added significance, as it is the second museum centre to be opened in the municipality's rural parishes within a month, following the creation of a museum centre in Alcanede, which is part of a decentralised cultural enhancement strategy.

Cândido do Carmo Azevedo is a professor, researcher, and author with a career spanning approximately 50 years in various countries. Born in the East, where he developed a significant part of his academic and professional career, he has dedicated his work to the study of history and the Portuguese presence in that region.