This museum owes its foundation to the legacy made in 1975 in favor of the University of Minho, by the Commander António Augusto Nogueira da Silva. The Museum's collection includes Chinese porcelain, Flemish painting from the 16th century, Portuguese painting from the 17th and 18th centuries and some pieces of furniture, silver, ivory, tapestries and tiles. The Nogueira da Silva Museum and the University Gallery operate in the same building.