The Corvo Ecomuseum is a cultural initiative dedicated to preserving, promoting, and interpreting the natural and cultural heritage of Corvo Island — the smallest island in the Azores.
Based on a “museum of territory” approach, the Ecomuseum goes beyond the traditional concept of a museum. It brings together different spaces across the island and actively involves the local community in safeguarding its identity and collective memory.
More than a cultural facility, it is a sustainable development project, strengthening the connection between heritage, people, and place, and reinforcing Corvo as a unique destination of authenticity and cultural value.
Encompassing the entire island, the Corvo Ecomuseum aims to protect, enhance, and share the island’s heritage — cultural, natural, human, and landscape — while also promoting its use as a driver for sustainable local development.
A key part of this initiative is its physical hub, Casa do Tempo, where visitors can explore exhibitions that provide essential context for understanding and interpreting the island’s territory.
The Ecomuseum is a dynamic process through which the Corvo community preserves, interprets, and manages its heritage for future generations. Unlike a traditional museum — typically centred around a single building and collection — the Ecomuseum sees the whole island as its living collection. The local community plays a central and active role, not only as the guardians of this heritage but also as participants in shaping and sharing it.