[1] The construction of the park began in 1938, an initiative of Fernando Bissaya Barreto [pt], a professor at the Medical School of the University of Coimbra and politician, following a project developed by architect Cassiano Branco.

The first phase of the project occurred between 1938 and 1940, which involved the recreation of group of structures identified as typical homes, chapels, mills and pillories located of the Trás-os-Montes and Minho region.

[2] Beginning in December 2003, a new space was open to act as visitor center for activities and pedagogical events, along with a sundial, both projects designed by architect João Paulo Revez Conceição.

[2] Starting in 2015, in an attempt to transform and make the site more dynamic, the board proposed new Portuguese monuments and the introduction of more regional houses to the collection.

[2][3][4] In the third section are ethnographic artefacts and monuments from Portuguese-speaking African countries, Brazil, Macau, India and Timor, encircled by vegetation.