The Regional Directorate for Culture, through the Angra do Heroísmo Museum, continues Wednesday, April 12, the programme for the revitalisation of Manuel Coelho Baptista de Lima Military History Centre, promoting its night opening with the aim of making the public acquainted with the rich and varied Militaria Collection installed at that centre.
 
This night programme, which takes place between 8 and 10 PM, includes visits to the three exhibitions on display at the premises: "Men, Weapons and War," "Memories and Novelties: Manuel Coelho Baptista de Lima and the Azorean Heritage" and "Boa Nova Royal Hospital." Moreover, it also provides access to the rooms containing uniforms, light weapons and heavy weapons, which are usually closed to the public.
 
Admission is free and does not depend on prior registration.
 
The Manuel Coelho Baptista de Lima Military History Centre is installed at the old Boa Nova Military Hospital. It houses the remarkable military collection belonging to Angra do Heroísmo Museum, being the only Portuguese military museum that is not under the administration of Ministry of Defence. The Museum displays pieces from the three branches of Armed Forces as well as from the National Republican Guard (GNR) and the Public Security Police (PSP).
 
The military collection features light and heavy artillery pieces, firearms, knives, metal shields, missiles, logistics equipment, harnesses, uniforms and decorations. Most pieces are accommodated in areas designed in accordance with the type of different materials. They reflect the interest of the first director of Angra do Heroísmo Museum, Manuel Coelho Baptista de Lima, in the military and his passion for collecting. For over 30 years, he has contributed to the enrichment of this collection.
 
This collection, previously scattered over several centres and reserves due to its diversity, volume and number of pieces, is now presented to the public through three themed exhibitions of long duration.
 
The exhibition "The Men, Weapons and War - from arrows to drones" depicts the evolution of weapons in connection with the history of humanity, from the earliest times to the present day; it is organised into five themed groups arranged in a diachronic perspective.
 
The collection of this exhibition consists of blade weapons and firearms, signets, graphic documents and fine arts, uniforms and body protection parts, musical instruments, artillery pieces and support material, transport and logistics.
 
In turn, the "Memories and Novelties: Manuel Coelho Baptista de Lima and the Azorean Heritage" exhibition recounts the performance of this scholar from Angra do Heroísmo. It focuses on his intention to build an Azorean identity and memory, dissonant from the ethnographic regionalism of the first half of 20th century, highlighting his contribution to the use of new European models of heritage management and safeguarding in the archipelago; they mark the beginning of regional public actions in this field. 
 
Finally, "Boa Nova Royal Hospital" exhibition allows visitors to know the building built from scratch for the installation of a hospital at the time of Dynastic Union in the early 17th century. It is located on the flank of the imposing Philippine fortress, commonly known as São João Baptista Castle.
 
This exhibition brings together the memories of a building that was the one of the oldest, if not the oldest, military hospital in the world where civilian and military patients received care at the same facilities.
 
The ways of regarding sickness and health in their relation with the sacred, home remedies and archaic treatments as well as the memories of what happened in this centuries-old building are revisited in panels and pieces on display at the old chapel and adjacent vestry. They evoke important events, such as the signing of the Spanish surrender in 1642, after a memorable siege of 11 months maintained by the population and militia of Terceira island, with the help of other Azorean islands; the preaching of António Vieira in 1654; Terceira-born chronicler Manuel Luís Maldonado, author of "Fenix Angrence," who served as hospital administrator and is buried at the chapel; and the installation of the English press that marked beginning of the press in the Azores.
 
The Regional Directorate for Culture informs that this and other events may be consulted in the Cultural Agenda of CulturAçores Portal at the following address: www.culturacores.azores.gov.pt.