Public Voting Begins for Museu Bordalo Pinheiro

Public voting has officially begun for Museu Bordalo Pinheiro as it competes to become one of the “7 Wonders of Portugal”, a national initiative celebrating the country’s most remarkable cultural and historical landmarks. The museum is inviting art lovers, cartoon enthusiasts, and the general public to support its nomination by casting their votes.

Located in Lisbon, Museu Bordalo Pinheiro is dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro (1846–1905), one of Portugal’s greatest cartoonists, illustrators, and ceramic artists. Housed in a purpose-built museum designed by architect Álvaro Machado in 1914, the institution remains the oldest purpose-built museum in Portugal still operating in its original function.

Founded in 1916 by Artur Ernesto da Cruz Magalhães, the museum was established to safeguard Bordalo Pinheiro’s artistic heritage and make it accessible to the public. Over nearly 110 years, it has become a leading cultural, educational, and research institution, showcasing an extensive collection of original cartoons, illustrations, ceramics, and archival materials that document the artist’s extraordinary contribution to Portuguese visual culture.

The 7 Wonders of Portugal campaign highlights the country’s most significant cultural landmarks through a nationwide public vote. Supporters can vote via a dedicated telephone line or through the TVI PASS mobile application, helping determine which sites will earn a place among Portugal’s seven most celebrated cultural treasures.

For the international cartoon community, the nomination carries particular significance. Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern editorial cartooning in Europe, and his museum stands as an enduring symbol of the importance of caricature, satire, and visual journalism. Its inclusion in the competition is not only recognition of an outstanding museum but also a tribute to the lasting cultural value of editorial cartooning.