Neonia is a constantly evolving place, inspired by the lesser-known curiosities of Porto, inviting visitors into discovery and imagination.
It is a 1500 m² immersive space, spread across 20 rooms whose names reference the city’s streets, landmarks and traditions.
In environments such as Bolhão Market, Imperial Café, Crystal Palace Gardens, the Douro River, the São João Festival, Porto’s Skyline or the Freixo Power Station, visitors move between past and future at their own pace, exploring a metropolis where reality and fantasy coexist.
MISSION & VALUES
An alternative Porto in the heart of the real one
Neonia was created from the desire to offer a singular cultural experience to those visiting Porto. More than an exhibition space, it was conceived as a parallel city, where each visitor becomes a temporary resident and builds a personal journey throughout the experience.
Like Porto itself, Neonia is defined by a strong and unconventional identity. This identity is expressed both through the imagined architecture of its spaces and through the way they are inhabited, explored and interpreted by those who visit. The aim is to create lasting memories and allow each person to leave their own mark on Neonia.
We believe in an inclusive and accessible experience, capable of connecting past, present and future within a parallel reality inspired by the city of Porto. Diversity of perspectives and experiences is central to the project, which is why we collaborate with local and international artists in the creation of original content designed to engage audiences of all ages.
Above all, Neonia values the quality of the experience and its relationship with visitors. This commitment is reflected in constant attention to detail and a clear ambition to exceed expectations, room by room, neon by neon.
FOUNDERS
At Neonia, we celebrate the meeting of worlds that rarely intersect. Science, technology, art and history coexist in the same space, alongside ideas still in formation and possibilities yet to be explored. This coexistence lies at the heart of the project and directly reflects the backgrounds of its founders.
With academic training in science and engineering, experience in research, teaching and management, and diverse professional paths, Neonia’s founders came together in an unexpected way to give shape to a shared vision. The result is a project born from the intersection of scientific rigour and creative freedom, designed to transform knowledge, curiosity and imagination into an experience accessible to the public.
Vera Mata is a born entrepreneur, with a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto. She co-founded I-SENSIS (a company dedicated to the development of perfumes) and created Ownya, a brand specialising in scented and fragranced products.
Aquiles Araújo Barros, also a Chemical Engineer, has been both an athlete and a volleyball coach, as well as a Chemistry professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto. He co-founded Castelbel (a leading Portuguese exporter of scented gifts for body and home) and Castêlo da Maia Gym Club, one of the country’s top volleyball teams.
Marta Carvalho Araújo, who holds a PhD in Quantum Chemistry from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, was CEO of Castelbel and Managing Director of Saint-Gobain Sekurit Service Portugal, owner of the Glassdrive brand (specialised in automotive glass repair and replacement).
Aquiles and Marta were professor and student of Analytical Chemistry at the Faculty of Sciences in 2003. Two years later, Aquiles met Vera at RTP television show 4 x Science, in an episode dedicated to perfumes and soaps.
It was only in 2021, by pure chance, that their paths crossed. When the three founders met and decided to join forces to create Neonia, a shared vision quickly took form. That moment marked the beginning of a project built on the convergence of distinct yet complementary trajectories, and on a collective desire to create something new within the city’s cultural landscape.
Today, that vision has become a space the founders share with tourists, visitors and residents alike, inviting them to discover Porto from a different perspective. Neonia offers an accessible and engaging way to learn about the city, where knowledge, curiosity and imagination intersect, enriching the experience of everyone who passes through the “Invicta”.
WHY AN “ANTIMUSEUM”?
Because we’re an unconventional, atypical museum, projected for all age groups!
From large-scale murals and sculptures to a laser Portuguese guitar, vintage bumper car, arcade games, and even a slide, we’ve got attractions for everyone. Here, not everyone likes everything, but there’s always something special for each visitor!
At Neonia, you can play, learn more about local history and culture, take spectacular photos and videos, or just relax in Snoezelen environments designed to provide pleasant and calming sensory experiences.
