Life of Christ Museum

The Life of Christ Museum (Portuguese: Museu Vida de Cristo) is a wax museum located in the city of Fatima, Portugal. Situated in Cova da Iria near the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, it is a themed museum dedicated to the life of Jesus Christ and is considered unique in the world. The institution presents the biblical narrative through life-size wax figures, serving as a significant cultural and religious site in the Santarem region.

The museum opened on 13 April 2007 following a project that involved an investment of 12 million euros. In August 2017, the museum faced financial collapse and was announced for closure and liquidation after its main creditors rejected an insolvency plan. The institution held a debt of around six million euros, with Caixa Geral de Depositos as its biggest creditor voting in favor of liquidation, leading creditors to order the cessation of museum activities. In 2021, the property was sold for 1.1 million euros to Renowned Champion, a Lisbon-based real estate company. The museum subsequently reopened to the public on 15 March 2024.

The museum's collection centers on the life of Jesus of Nazareth, portrayed through 33 scenes ranging from the Annunciation of the Angel to Mary to the Ascension of Jesus to Heaven. A total of 210 life-size wax figures populate these scenes. The garments worn by the figures are crafted from fabrics manufactured in the Serta area on manual looms by Portuguese artisan women. According to the acquiring real estate company, Tony Julius, director of the London firm that manufactured the wax figures and a former collaborator of the Madame Tussauds Museum, considered the institution the third best wax museum in the world.

The museum complex spans an area of 4,400 square meters and features modern architecture characterized by light colors, with an exterior clad in granite and copper. Internally, the building is organized to provide great luminosity and ample circulation spaces across six floors. Two floors are dedicated to narrating the life of Christ, two floors serve as a commercial area, and two floors provide parking for light vehicles. The facility includes a shopping arcade with 16 stores, five storage rooms, and a basement car park with approximately one hundred parking spaces.

The museum is located in Cova da Iria in Fatima, Portugal, within the Santarem district. Its proximity to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima makes it an accessible destination for pilgrims and tourists visiting the area. After a period of closure and acquisition by the Lisbon-based real estate firm Renowned Champion, the museum resumed its public role and officially reopened its doors on 15 March 2024. Further information regarding access and operations is available on its official website.