Official recognitions and awards
Cláudio Torres has received national and international distinctions and awards.
Among others, in 1999, he received Prémio Pessoa, the most important Portuguese award, given to people with an outstanding presence in arts, culture or science.
In 1993, the President of the Portuguese Republic awarded him the Great Cross of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator. In 2001, the University of Évora awarded him the Doctor Honoris Causa degree. In 2015, Pope Francis awarded him the Prize of the Pontifical Academies, as Director of the Mértola Archaeological Site (CAM). In 2018, Portugal’s Foundation for Science and Technology awarded him the Medal for Scientific Merit. Also, as Director of CAM, the University of Córdova awarded him the Prize Sísifo a la Investigación, Defensa y Difusión del Património Arqueológico, in the Field of Archaeology. In 2020, the Portuguese Government awarded him the Medal for Cultural Merit. In 2021, the Portuguese Association of Municipalities with Historical Centres awarded him the Memory and Identity Award.
In November 2022, ICOM Portugal honoured him with a tribute. The Mértola Municipal Council approved a new name for one of its 14 museum nuclei – i.e., Museu de Mértola Cláudio Torres.