Salazar came to power in Portugal through a military coup in 1926 and in 1933 established a “New State” – fascist dictatorship.
The PIDE (political police) played a major role in the state, and the building which houses this museum was used to incarcerate and torture prisoners until the revolution in 1974.
It’s a fantastic multi-media exhibition, going through the whole period, in many ways demonstrating the development of a fascist state.
So many people were murdered or just disappeared during this time and thus museum honours their sacrifice.
There is also a temporary exhibition about José Dias Coelho, an artist and revolutionary who was murdered in 1961. My father knew his family and we went to Portugal in the 60s we used to visit them
Here is a link to a song written to commemorate his life
If you go to Lisbon do visit this museum – it is an education!