No. 132 Rua Rainha D. Maria II, where Loja Oficina is located, is a building rich in history, as it is the birthplace of one of the most important figures of the second half of the 19th century in Portugal: Alberto Sampaio (1841–1908). Alberto Sampaio was not only a distinguished historian but also a passionate lover of the land’s produce. His archival collection includes numerous studies and records in the areas of fruit cultivation, floriculture, horticulture, agriculture, and viticulture in the Minho region.

Symbolically, Loja Oficina hosts an exhibition—recently renewed—featuring previously unseen objects, photographs, and writings that invite visitors to connect with the historian in what was once the home of his maternal family.