The Casa das Histórias Paula Rego — the House of Stories — is Cascais's great cultural landmark: a museum designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, opened in 2009, whose two pyramid-shaped towers in red-pigmented concrete rise unmistakably above the pines between the centre and the coast road.
Paula Rego (1935–2022), the most celebrated Portuguese artist of her generation, chose Cascais — where she spent childhood summers — for the museum of her work. The collection holds paintings, drawings and prints spanning her career: dark, theatrical, story-driven images that rework fairy tales, family dramas and Portuguese memory with unsettling power. Exhibitions rotate, often pairing Rego with her husband Victor Willing or invited artists.
The building alone justifies the visit — a sequence of beautiful top-lit galleries around a courtyard, with a café and bookshop — and it stands ten minutes' walk from the centre, on the way to the Boca do Inferno.
Highlights
- Red pyramid towers by Pritzker-winner Eduardo Souto de Moura
- The most important collection of Paula Rego's work
- Rotating exhibitions of paintings, drawings and prints
- Top-lit galleries, courtyard, café and bookshop
- Ten minutes' walk from the centre, towards Boca do Inferno
History & context
Paula Rego personally chose Cascais for the museum of her work and Souto de Moura as its architect; the Casa das Histórias opened in September 2009 and the artist's reputation has only grown since her death in 2022.
🗓️ Best time to visit
Late morning, combined with the coastal walk to Boca do Inferno; quietest on weekday afternoons.
⏱️ Duration
1–1.5 hours
♿ Accessibility
Step-free modern galleries, fully accessible.
Frequently asked questions
What are the opening hours?
Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:40); closed on Mondays.
How much is the ticket?
Around €5, with the usual reductions; check locally as exhibitions can vary.
Who designed the building?
Eduardo Souto de Moura, Portugal's Pritzker Prize-winning architect — the red pyramid towers have become a Cascais icon.