Lisbon museums worth visiting. Lisbon Museums - Paid and Free. National Costume Museum

Portuguese history is closely related to Azuleijos. This tradition originated in the Iberian Peninsula from the Arabs, who dominated the area for many centuries. A specialized museum was created in Lisbon, detailing the development of this type of tile art, from the earliest stages to the present day.

The collection of the Azuleijos Museum is unique. The exhibition presents samples of tiles from Portugal and other countries in which this art form is a national feature. The walls of the museum are decorated with scenes from the life of the Mother of God, as well as paintings depicting crowned persons - King John III and Catherine of Austria. One of the exhibits is a huge panorama of Lisbon, made in 1730. It depicts the city before it was destroyed by an earthquake on November 1, 1755. The ceiling of the monastery is decorated with gorgeous stucco moldings with gilding.

Lisbon carriage museum

The Museum of Carriages in Lisbon has the status of a national museum; it is one of the most visited museums in the city. The museum's expositions contain an extensive and very interesting collection of carriages, carriages, carriages belonging to different eras, peoples, estates and dynasties. Basically, the exhibits date back to the time of the beginning of the 17th century and up to the end of the 19th century.

The Lisbon Carriage Museum is located in the Belem Palace, namely in the wing where the arena for training and displaying horses is located. It was opened at the beginning of the 20th century, in 1905. At that time, the museum bore the proud name "Museum of Transport" and consisted of 29 exhibits. Today, the museum has a unique and extensive collection of vehicles from the 17th century to the advent of the automobile. It includes carriages and carriages of European royal courts, noble aristocratic families of England, France, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Austria and other countries.

The arena for training horses is 50 meters long and 17 meters wide, and is perfect for demonstrating carriages and carriages. There are balconies along the perimeter of the second floor, from where the nobles could watch the training of horses, and now from here you can view the entire presented collection of vehicles. The interior of the museum premises itself is skillfully decorated; there are murals and paintings on the theme of horse riding. In addition to carriages and carriages themselves, there are stretchers and hearses, canopies and phaetons, convertibles and children's carts, and much more.

National Ethnological Museum

The National Ethnological Museum, located in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, began its work as temporary exhibitions held in various galleries and exhibition centers in the country. It was opened in 1947, in a two-story building located in the Restelu district, a kilometer north of the Jeronimite monastery.

The expositions of the museum acquaint visitors with the cultures of the world and the history of the Portuguese colonies in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia and India. The collection of thematic exhibitions numbers more than 30 thousand exhibits, among which you can see national costumes, tools, household items, documents and photographs. Since 1959, temporary exhibitions have been held at the National Museum of Ethnology.

The National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon is one of the most monumental art collections not only in Portugal, but throughout Europe. The art collections kept in the funds of the National Museum reflect the development of art in Portugal up to the beginning of the 19th century.

The museum is located in the premises of the former palace of the Counts of Alvor. Its opening took place in 1884. Locals call it the "House of Green Windows". The building got this name because of the characteristic color of the windows. Once upon a time in ancient times, this place was the monastery of St. Albert, destroyed by a powerful earthquake in 1755. Only the chapel has survived from the monastery buildings, which is part of the museum complex.

The collection of the museum contains the largest collection of paintings in Portugal. A significant part of the collection is made up of canvases by Portuguese painters. An extensive collection of sculptures, silver and porcelain items and other examples of applied art from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. An important place in the collection is occupied by a collection dedicated to Portugal's ties with the countries of South America, East and Africa.

Toy Museum

The Toy Museum, located in the Portuguese city of Sintra, was opened in 1989. Most of the collection has been collected over 50 years by the famous Portuguese collector João Arbuez Moreira. In its present place, in a four-story building that previously belonged to the city fire brigade, the museum has been located since 1999.

The expositions of the museum acquaint visitors with the history of toys. Among the exhibits of the collection, which currently has more than 40 thousand toys, you can see Egyptian toys created in the III-II centuries BC, toy cars, Portuguese handmade toys and many old and modern toys. Toys can be seen on the second and third floors, on the first floor there is a shop and a restaurant, and on the fourth floor there is the “holy of holies of the museum” - a workshop for the repair and restoration of toys.

Money Museum of the Bank of Portugal

The Money Museum of the Bank of Portugal is one of the most interesting museums in the world. The bank was founded in November 1846 by royal decree. The richest collection of numismatics from the time of the "Great Geographical Discoveries" became the main achievement of the "Money of the West of the Iberian Peninsula" exposition.

This collection is presented for everyone to see. The exposition clearly demonstrates the evolution of money from objects that replaced money to the euro, which left its mark in a certain historical era.

National Theater Museum

The National Theater Museum, located in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, traces its history back to the early 20th century. It was then that the future founders of the museum began to collect items related to the development of theater in the country. The museum was officially established in 1982 and opened on February 4, 1985. It occupies the premises of the old two-story palace Monteiro Mor, built at the end of the 18th century and surrounded by a beautiful garden.

The expositions of the museum introduce visitors to the performing arts of Portugal: from its origins to the present day. The collection of exhibits numbers more than 300 thousand items, among which you can see costumes, props, decorations, posters and programs. The museum contains 120 thousand photographs taken before, during and after performances in various theaters of the country.

Temporary exhibitions tell about the country's theater groups and famous artists. The building of the National Museum also houses a library, which contains 35 thousand volumes on the performing arts in Portugal, a small hall with 80 seats, where demonstrations of performances are held with subsequent discussion, a gift shop and a cafe.

Lisbon Electricity Museum

The Electricity Museum is a cultural center for industrial archeology that represents the past, present and future of energy, making science accessible to all. The museum is located in the Belene area, on the lands reclaimed by Lisbon by the Teju River.

The Electricity Museum will never leave people indifferent. Equipped to be visited by people with disabilities, it is adapted for a variety of people, including students and schoolchildren, young children, and even academics.

The authorities of Lisbon decided from the power plant - Centrotejo - which illuminated the capital of Portugal for more than 40 years, to convert it into a famous museum. In the early 2000s, the museum underwent a second restoration. It included everything from ancient power plant equipment from elevators, and various coal boilers to condensers, control panels and steam turbines.

In the museum, you can order an educational tour, since it includes not only a science museum, but also a rather popular cultural center.

For visitors, the acquaintance with the museum begins from the square, which has been called the Coal Square since the time of the power plant's operation. Further, visitors enter the industrial complex through an old low-pressure boiler house, which has been converted into an exhibition hall with expositions.

The next hall - the Boiler Unit Hall, is located in the premises of the former high-pressure boiler house, it contains the largest 4 boilers, about 30 meters high

high fever, ash sediment in the lungs and intense physical activity. The Hall of Water features a multitude of multi-colored pipes that are located along the walls and ceiling of the room.

And finally, the final stage of the excursion is the Control Room. Here the control over the generators was exercised, as well as the representation and the distributor of energy, which was generated by Centrotezh.

Roman Theater Museum

The Museum of the Roman Theater, located in the southernmost part of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, is a unique museum complex that includes buildings from different centuries. It was opened in 2001 with the aim of preserving the memory of the Roman past of the city. The space of the museum includes a four-story building from the 17th century and the remains of Roman buildings. The entrance to the museum, part of which is located in the open air, is free.

The main building of the museum houses a permanent exhibition that acquaints visitors with the history of the city from Roman times and the history of the development of the Roman theater. Among the exhibits of the museum, you can see the architectural elements of Roman buildings found during excavations: capitals, entablatures, as well as documents and photographs. Next to the museum are the ruins of a Roman theater built in the 1st century by Emperors Augustus. From the once huge amphitheater, designed for 5 thousand spectators, only columns and several stone sculptures have survived.

National Costume Museum

The National Costume Museum, located in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, attracts tourists with its unique collection. It was opened in 1977 and occupies the premises of an old two-story mansion built in the 18th century.

The exposition of the museum acquaints visitors with the history of the costume of the state of Portugal. When the museum was created, its collection consisted of about 7 thousand items of clothing and accessories, many of which belonged to members of the royal family. More than 90% of the exhibits currently in the museum were donated to him by private individuals.

Among them you can see the national Portuguese costumes, examples of civilian fashion from the 17th to the 20th century, accessories, underwear, jewelry and works of art dedicated to fashion. The museum has a library, restaurant and gift shop.

National Museum of Natural History and Science

The National Museum of Natural History and Science, located in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, was founded in 2011 on the basis of previously existing museums. It includes the National Museum of Natural History, the Science Museum of the University of Lisbon, the Botanical Garden and the Lisbon Astronomical Observatory. All these units are under the authority of the University of Lisbon, under the direction of its rector.

The National Museum of Natural History has existed on the basis of the university since 1926. Its collections introduce visitors to the history of the development of zoology, anthropology and botany. Among the exhibits of the museum you can see plants from all over the world, a collection of 1,700 human skeletons.

Lisbon Botanical Garden was officially opened in 1878. Its main decoration is dracaena, which is 400 years old. The Science Museum of the University of Lisbon was established in 1985. His collection includes valuable geological and mineralogical finds, as well as exhibits dedicated to the development of scientific and technological progress in the country. The Lisbon Astronomical Observatory, founded in 1878, is currently not observing. It hosts lectures, seminars and exhibitions dedicated to the development of astronomy as a science.

National Museum of Ancient Art

The National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon is located in an old castle, built in the 17th century for the family of the noble Count Alvor, later the palace passed into the possession of the famous Portuguese Marquis de Pombal, and in 1884 a museum was created here. The collection of the museum reflects the development of Portuguese art up to the beginning of the XIX century and contains paintings, sculptures, metalwork, textiles, drawings.

For connoisseurs of culture and works of art, exhibitions are open on three floors. On the ground floor, unique paintings by various European artists from the 14th to the 19th century are presented. In addition, the decoration is decorated with antique furniture and decorative interior items. The second floor houses an excellent collection of African and Oriental art, as well as Chinese and Portuguese ceramics, antique gold and silver jewelry and many other treasures and relics. The third floor of the National Museum of Ancient Art is filled with an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Portuguese masters.

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, in the center of Lisbon, has a very valuable collection of works of art in the world. The museum has collected outstanding examples of Greek, Roman, Egyptian Asian, Spanish and European art. The collection has been collected for over 40 years and was bequeathed to Lisbon after the death of Calouste Gulbenkian, as a token of immense gratitude for the authorities' granting political asylum in 1942.

The museum, founded in 1968, brings together the art collections of the former owner, whose name the museum bears, scattered around the world. It took several years to collect all the exhibits “under one roof”, and in 1969 a grand opening of the museum took place in Lisbon. Especially in order to show the collection, the famous Portuguese architects R. Atugia, P. Sid and A. Pessoa, built a beautiful building that meets all the requirements for displaying works of art.

17 halls are open for visitors and it may take several days to fully get acquainted with all the works, enjoy the atmosphere of the museum. The building houses more than six thousand exhibits, which include not only works of antiquity, but also masterpieces of modern art.

Museum of Geology

The Museum of Geology, located in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, is a division of the country's Geological Survey. It was opened in 1857 in a stone two-story building of a former Christian monastery.

The expositions of the four exhibition halls of the museum acquaint visitors with the history of geology in the country. Among the exhibits you can see minerals, rocks and minerals from prehistoric times, archaeological and paleontological finds. In 2010, the museum was recognized as a public domain for the scientific value of the collection, the preservation and development of the unique achievements of geology.

Museum of ceramics

The Museum of Ceramics, located in the Portuguese city of Caldas da Rainha, was founded in 1983 on the estate of the Viscount Sacavena, which the state acquired specifically for this in 1981. The collection was based on the private collection of the viscounts of the city of Sackaven and ceramics made at the factories of the country.

The exposition of the museum acquaints visitors with ceramic products of the 17th - 20th centuries. Among the exhibits you can see the products of the large ceramic factory Fabrica do Ratu, which operated in the city in the 18th century, the centers of ceramic production in Portugal, the factories of Bandeira, Darki, Santana, and works of ceramic art from other countries. Of particular interest are 1200 tiles of the 16th - 20th centuries, designer ceramics by modern craftsmen, clay sculptures and potters. The main attraction of the museum is the collection of works by the local master Rafael Bordalu Pinheiro.

National Carriage Museum

One of the richest collections of royal carriages of the 17th-19th centuries in Europe. Gilded, trimmed with silver, precious stones, silk and velvet, luxurious and refined. And they are all still on the move! The carriages on display were manufactured in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria and France.

The museum collection contains both quite ordinary carriages and quite rare ones. All exhibits are located in the building of the former arena, built in 1726 by the Italian architect Giacomo Azzolini. In 1905, the arena was converted into a museum, it was the desire of Dona Amalea, wife of King Carlos I. The very first exhibit in the museum was a very modest wooden carriage trimmed with red leather. Once upon a time, Philip II of Spain himself rode in this carriage.

The exposition also includes richly decorated carriages, upholstered in red velvet and covered with gilding, upholstered in plush, decorated with carved figures and royal coats of arms, outside the carriages are decorated with statues as tall as a man. Each of them weighs about five tons. The second gallery displays two-wheeled convertibles, Landau convertibles, and harnessed pony phaetons for the youngest members of the royal family. There is even a 19th-century working carriage, in which cabbies carried passengers around Lisbon, and a very modest phaeton with a black convertible top dating from the time of the Marquis of Pombal.

Chiado Museum

The Chiado Museum, located in the area of ​​the same name of the Portuguese capital - the city of Lisbon, has a second name - the National Gallery of Modern Art. It was founded in 1911 by government decree and occupies the building of a former Franciscan monastery, damaged during the 1755 earthquake.

The house, which had been empty for a long time, was decided to restore and create a gallery in it. In 1988, a massive fire broke out in the Chiado area, which completely destroyed many buildings, including the building of the Chiado Museum. The restored museum reopened its doors in 1994.

The museum's permanent exhibitions introduce visitors to Portuguese art of the 19th and 20th centuries. Among the exhibits you can see works of painting and sculpture from romanticism to modernism. Temporary exhibitions, which are held in a separate room, showcase the work of artists from all over the world. A special attraction of the museum collection is the self-portrait of Columban Bardal Pinheiro, who directed the museum from 1914 to 1927, and the art deco diptychs of Almada Negreiroz, a Portuguese modernist. In 1996, the Chiado Museum received the prestigious prize of the European Festival of Museums, for its contribution to the development of museums.

Museum of Cinematography

The Museum of Cinematography, located in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, is popular with film fans from all over the world. It was opened in 1954 in a five-story Baroque building as the National Film Archive and is housed in the famous Fosse Palace.

The exposition of the museum acquaints visitors with the history of Portuguese and world cinema. Among the exhibits of the museum you can see the first video cameras, cinema posters, photographs and books dedicated to the development of cinematography. The museum hosts screenings of old films, followed by discussions about what they saw. The museum has a library, shop and restaurant.

National Sports Museum

The National Sports Museum, located in the center of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, is one of the newest museums in the country. It was opened in 2012 in the old mansion "Foz Palace", built at the end of the 19th century.

The museum expositions introduce visitors to the history of sports in Portugal. The collection of the museum includes more than 60 thousand items, including personal belongings of Portuguese athletes, photographs, audio and video materials. The most interesting exhibits are the sweater of the athlete Rosa Mota, the sneakers of the 2008 Olympic champion, the jumper Nelson Evora and the golden boot of the famous football player Eusebio Sacristan Mena. The library at the museum has a large number of documents, periodicals and monographs. It contains the 16th century book The Art of Gymnastics.

Maritime museum

The Maritime Museum in Lisbon is one of the largest in Europe and clearly demonstrates the superiority of the Portuguese in everything related to the sea. Here are collected items that characterize the history of navigation, items from the era of the great geographical discoveries and models of historical ships.

The Maritime Museum was founded on June 22, 1863 by King Louis of Portugal and is located near the Jeronimos Monastery. For many years now, this museum has fascinated and admired the glorious maritime history of Portugal. At the very beginning, the museum collection was located in the premises of the former naval school and the palace of Count Farrobo. Over time, it was decided to move the exhibits to the historic district of Belém. This move became a real act of symbolism, because it was from the harbor of Belem that the Vasco da Gama caravels set off in search of the sea route to India. The collection includes about 17 thousand exhibits. Among them is a wooden figurine of the archangel Raphael, who traveled to India with Vasco da Gama on his ship. The exposition displays navigational instruments, cannons, nautical charts of the 16th century, a globe from 1645, reconstructed the interiors of cabins in which the royal persons - Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany - were traveling.

Puppet museum

The museum is located in a restored old building, which once housed a monastery. A huge number of tourists annually strive here to learn more about the history of this art form, to get acquainted with the characteristic features of the cultural life of the 17th and 18th centuries.

The museum contains interesting videos, which show numerous performances, performances, rituals, various celebrations and interesting shows in which fairy-tale puppets are involved. The museum exhibits a rich collection of puppets in various ways of creating them, as well as a large number of masks reflecting various traditional cultures of many peoples and countries from around the world.

The museum has a special room for children, where they frolic and play with great pleasure. The founders of the museum consider their main mission to form an understanding of the history of puppets and their role in world art among visitors.

National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum in Lisbon was founded on December 22, 1893, by a special decree of the king. It combined in itself two parts: archaeological research before the 18th century and the results of archaeological research in modern times. Jose de Vasconcelas became its first director. Later, in 1894, the Academy of Sciences was founded in Lisbon, which after five years received the title of National Monument.

In 1906, on the territory of the Jerinimus monastery, an exposition of the archaeological museum was opened. Since the opening of the museum, Lisbon has become the center of archaeological research in Portugal, under the leadership of Manuel Heleno. In 1956, the expansion of the museum began, the area of ​​the premises was increased to 18 thousand square meters, which made the museum one of the largest in Lisbon. The work lasted two years, and the reconstruction project was directed by the architect Alberto Cruz. But since 1976, the museum has been closed to visitors, and until 1980 only temporary exhibitions are held here.

In 1980, a complete reorganization of the exhibition halls from the storerooms of the museum was carried out - the exhibition "Treasures of Portuguese Archeology" was opened. In 1984, the area of ​​the museum expanded again, now up to 40 thousand square meters. At the same time, a new exposition was opened - "Portugal from the Roman era to the present day." A new exhibition hall, "Underground Lisbon", opened in 1994. The new director, Luis Roposa, appointed in 1996, runs the museum to this day. In 2202, the site of the museum was opened, where you can see the schedule of all expositions.

Water museum

The Museum of Water, located in the Portuguese capital - Lisbon, was opened in 1987 and during its short existence has won recognition not only in the country, but also abroad.In 1990, the museum received the Council of Europe Prize for the preservation of national and European cultural heritage ...

The museum was created on the basis of the city's first steam pumping station, and is located in an old two-story building with an extension, which is a historical landmark of Lisbon. Among the exhibits of the Museum of Water you can see steam engines and pumps of the 19th century, documents and photographs that tell the history of supplying the city with water from ancient times to the present day. The museum complex also includes the old Aqueduct - a water conduit for supplying water to the city, the Patriarch's reservoir and a pumping station.

Museum of Music

The Museum of Music, located in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, is a unique museum thanks to some of the exhibits from its collection. Its history began in 1911, when the musicologist Michelangelo Lambertini and the collector Antonio Carvalho Monteiro began collecting musical instruments, scores and samples of iconography from various urban organizations, initially in a building on rue Rua do Alecrim.

After the death of the creators of the unique collection, their work was continued by the museum curator Thomas Borba. The museum has moved several times, and since 1994 it has been located underground - on two specially equipped floors of the western wing of the Alto Dos metro station.

The collection of musical instruments, among which you can see the famous piano of the composer Franz Liszt, the cello by Antonio Stradivari and one of the two surviving Eichentopf oboes of the 18th century, has more than a thousand instruments of the 16th-20th centuries. The museum also houses an extensive music library of 9 thousand works, unique handwritten documents, ceramics, sculptures, photographs, prints and paintings.

There are more than 30 museums in the capital of Portugal, some are of the classical type in historical buildings, others have been opened recently and surprise with new architectural solutions. Tourists can visit Lisbon museums with discounts and free of charge on certain days or with a tourist card. But even without discounts, museum tickets in Portugal are not expensive - from 2 to 10 euros. Next, we will get acquainted with information about the best museum expositions, their location and ticket prices.

We wrote about how to get from Lisbon airport to the city. Instructions for the Lisbon metro can be found. Read about where you can swim in Lisbon and the surrounding area.

The Azulejo Museum Collection (Museu Nacional do Azulejo) exists only in Portugal, so it's worth getting to the Alfema area, wandering around 3 floors and getting to know the ceramic miracle. Hand-painted tiles from the 15th century to the present are collected in the Baroque building of the 16th century Monastery of the Mother of God. The huge panel depicts Lisbon as it was before the earthquake in 1755. Part of the exposition is devoted to the production of tiles. It is a pity that there are no Russian-language tours or an audio guide.

Address: Rua da Madre de Deus, 4.

Schedule: from 10.00 to 18.00, closed on Monday.

Ticket price: 5€.

How to get there: Bus stop 210, 718, 742, 759, 794 Igreja Madre Deus next to the museum; Art. Metro Santa Apolónia, then walk along the tracks for 20 minutes.

Another place that displays samples of azulejos in a natural arrangement on the walls is the Museum of the Carriages in Lisbon. There are now very few carriages left in the arena building, but you can admire the tiles. Those wishing to see the main collection of carriages are better off going to the new building opposite the old one (tickets are different). Landau, carriages, convertibles, palanquins and even cabs are presented there - the most beautiful models of different centuries. The grandiose collection is considered the best in the world, and the pleasure of viewing and photos costs only 6 euros.

A visit can be conveniently combined with a tour of the Jeronimos Monastery, located nearby. In the morning, while most tourists rush to the ticket office of the monastery, there are very few visitors in the "carriage kingdom".

Address: Avenida da Índia, 136.

How to get there: buses 28, 714, 727, 729; tram 15; train to Belém station;

Ticket the new museum costs 8 €; in an old building - 4 €; (museum + old building) - 10 €

The history of the great sailors at the Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum is also located in Belem, directly in the Jeronimos Monastery. Everything here is dedicated to the sea voyages of the Portuguese, their geographical discoveries. There are reduced copies of ships, a seaplane of the early 20th century, old maps, barges that have survived from the 18th century - more than 17 thousand exhibits.

Address: Praça do Império

Schedule: from 10.00-17.00 in winter, from 10.00-18.00 in summer, closed on Monday.

Site: museu.marinha.pt

Lisbon Water Museum

Museu da Água Wikipedia is considered the best museum in the world dedicated to the water supply system. In Lisbon, a pumping station and reservoirs, aqueducts have been preserved for two centuries. You can see real steam engines. The huge water reservoir with a capacity of 5500 cubic meters is impressive.

National Museum of Ancient Art

The largest museum in the city will appeal to lovers of classical painting - Raphael's canvases here side by side with sculptures of medieval masters. The works of the great Dutchman Hieronymus Bosch are presented.

Address: Rua das Janelas Verdes, 1249-017, take buses 713, 714, 727 or tram 15E;

Schedule: Tuesday - 14.00 - 18.00; Wednesday-Sunday - 10.00 - 18.00; day off - Monday.

Price regular ticket 6 €; there are benefits for children, pensioners, students.

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

Oil millionaire and collector Calouste Gyulbenkian has amassed a vast and varied collection worthy of major state museums.

Here you can see the treasures of ancient Egypt, paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Renoir, Islamic, Greek, European art, jewelry from different eras.

Address: Avenida de Berna, 45 A .; Entrance to the building from the side of Edward Park, st. metro Praca de Espanha

Schedule: Tue-Sun from 10.00 to 18.00. Ticket price 5 euros

Where to go for lovers of contemporary art

In the cultural center Belen there is an exhibition hall of contemporary art. Four galleries host screenings, festivals, and film premieres. The complex has excellent free wi-fi.

The same building houses the Coleccão Berardo Museum of Contemporary and New Art. Joe Berardo collected over 1000 works by Dali, Bacon, Malevich, Duchamp and dozens of other artists of the 20th century and donated them to the city. Particularly famous exhibits are "The Woman in the Chair" by Picasso "The Portrait of Judy Garland" by Warhol.

Fado Museum (Museu do Fado)

The stylish museum in the center of the old district of Alfema helps you understand the Portuguese love of fado and the atmosphere of dance. Improvisations on the theme of fado bars, music of the Portuguese guitar, vivid photos and paintings - everything here is dedicated to dance.

New museum complex

In the fall of 2017, the Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia, abbreviated as MAAT, was opened in Belem, in an unusual building that merges with the Tagus River. It replaced the old electricity museum and is focused on science, new technologies, contemporary art. Address: Fundação EDP, Av. Brasília, Central Tejo, Belém; Get there by buses 728, 714, 727, 729, 751. by tram number 15 or the Cascais line - Belém station;

Schedule: from 12.00 o'clock, closed on Tuesday.

Free museums in Lisbon

The Money Museum has recently opened in the Praça do Município area. Here you can evaluate what a half-million-euro gold bar looks like, look at coins from different countries, and find out how banking has developed.

Site: www.museudodinheiro.pt

Each visitor will be able to enter the Maritime Museum, MAAT, free of charge on the 1st Sunday of the month. On Friday from 18 to 22 hours - the Museum of the Orient, on Saturdays - to the Berardo Museum, on Sunday morning - the Puppet Museum. It is better to clarify on the websites of museums.

Entrance to museums with Lisboa Card

The Tourist Lisboa Card offers free admission or discounts to 93 seats, plus free use of transport. The list includes 26 museums with free admission. Read more here. The card is valid from the moment of first use. Whether or not the card pays off depends on how many museums you intend to visit per day.

Lisbon's museums are must-see attractions. Before visiting the capital of Portugal, each traveler determines for himself a list of the most interesting places. Rest in the Portuguese capital will surely turn out to be fascinating and informative, because it combines a rich historical heritage, a mixture of cultures, traditions and peoples.

Museu da Marioneta

The people of Portugal have always treated the history of their country with care and reverence. That is why Lisbon is unique and colorful - there is a lot of colorful, original, classic, modernist here. Check out the Lisbon Water Museum, carriages and azulejo tiles. Given the huge number of museums in the city, it is important to draw up a route map, and our article will help you determine your preferences.

The best museums in the capital of Portugal

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

The attraction is located in the northwest direction from the Commerce Square (Trade Square). The exposition of the museum has more than 6 thousand works of art from different historical eras.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon was opened in 1969 by the bequest of an oil tycoon. Here are collected amazing sculptures, paintings from different eras and masters, jewelry, unique handmade creations. The entire collection belonged to Gulbenkian and bequeathed to them by the people of Portugal. The museum also houses the headquarters of the Sarkis Gyulbenkian Foundation and a library, where unique editions of books and documents are collected.

The museum has two chronological expositions:

• works of art from Egypt, Rome, Greece, Persia, Japan and China;
• works of European art from the 16th to 20th centuries.

On a note! The main attraction of the Gulbenkian Museum is a collection of furniture from the times of King Louis XV and amazing decorations by Rene Lalique.

Important information:

• Address: Avenida de Berna 45a, Lisbon;
• When to come: from 10-00 to 18-00 (the museum is closed on Tuesdays and on holidays indicated on the official website);
• What is the price: 3-5 euros (temporary exhibitions), 10 € (fundamental and contemporary art collection), 11.50-14 € (visiting all exhibitions), on Sunday admission is free for all visitors to the Gulbenkian Museum.

The Azulejo Museum in Lisbon is the story of the evolution of a unique painting borrowed from Mauritania. This trend in art became especially popular in the 15th century, when the inhabitants of Portugal could not afford to decorate their homes with carpets.

The first ceramic tiles azulejo were made in blue and white, then the painting changed in accordance with the styles that were popular in a certain historical period - baroque, rococo.

The Azulejo Museum has been welcoming visitors since 1980 and is located in the Church of Our Lady. Tourists are told about the origin of the style, ceramic tile making and use. The exhibits include ceramics from different eras.

Note! The main attraction of the Azulejo Museum is a panel depicting the capital of Portugal before the terrible disaster of 1755. Also, tourists are attracted by the panorama of Lisbon, laid out from a mosaic.

Useful information:

• Where to find: Rua Madre de Deus 4, Lisbon;
• Schedule: from 10-00 to 18-00, closed on Tuesday;
• Tickets: 5 € for adults, for students - 2.5 €, children under 14 years old admission is free.

Church-Museum of St. Roch

For two centuries, the building of the temple was occupied by the Jesuit community, after the catastrophe of 1755, the church was transferred to the house of mercy.

The temple is named after the saint who protected pilgrims and healed from the plague. The building was built in the 16th century and is designed in the style of an auditorium, as it was intended for sermons. All chapels of the temple are decorated in the Baroque style, the most famous and remarkable is the chapel of John the Baptist. It is recognized as a unique architectural project that Italian masters worked on. The construction was carried out for 8 long years in Rome. At the end of the work, it was consecrated by the Pope and the chapel was taken by sea to Lisbon. The main attraction is a unique mosaic panel depicting scenes from the Bible.

Outside, the temple looks more modest than other shrines in the capital, but inside it amazes with luxury and splendor. Once inside, you want to study every curl of the stucco molding and touch every pebble of the mosaic.

Information to visit:

• Locations in Lisbon: Largo Trindade Coelho;
• Open: from October to March, the museum accepts guests from 10-00 to 18-00 from Tuesday to Sunday, from 14-00 to 18-00 on Mondays, from April to September - from 10-00 to 19-00 from Tuesday to Sunday, from 14-00 to 19-00 on Mondays;
• Price:€ 2.50, holders of special cards pay € 1, annual ticket costs € 25, family ticket costs € 5.

The museum is located in the historic part of Portugal - Beleme. The celebrations of the most important historical events for the country took place here. Attractions named after José Berardo - a well-known patron of art and entrepreneur in Portugal. Negotiations on the construction of the facility between the country's authorities and Berardo lasted almost ten years. The doors for viewing the exposition were opened to visitors in 2007.

The exposition is located in the Belem Cultural Center and has more than a thousand items, and the total cost of the collection is estimated at $ 400 million. Two floors are allocated for the works, in addition to sculptures and paintings, unique photographs are presented here.

Interesting to know! Works by Picasso, Malevich and Dali are exhibited here.

What you need to know:

• Address: Praça do Império;
• Working hours: daily from 10-00 to 19-00, if you want to see the collection on holidays, check out the schedule on the official website (en.museuberardo.pt);
• Price: 5 €, children under 6 years old - free, from 7 to 18 years old - 2.5 €.

Archaeological Museum of Carmo

The ruins are located approximately half a kilometer from the Commerce Square in the northwest direction. The monastery was built on a hill in front of the castle of Sant Jorge. The easiest and fastest way to get to the attraction is on the Santa Justa ski lift.

The monastery was opened at the end of the 14th century and was the main Gothic temple of the capital. In its grandeur, the monastery was in no way inferior to the Cathedral. The catastrophe of 1755 did not spare the monastery, which was completely destroyed. The restoration of the temple began during the reign of Queen Mary I. In 1834, renovation work was stopped. The residential part of the temple was transferred to the Portuguese army. From the end of the 19th century, the monastery passed to the archaeological museum, which displays a collection dedicated to the history of Portugal.

Contacts and prices:

• Address: Largo do Carmo 1200, Lisbon;
• Works: from October to May from 10-00 to 18-00, from June to September from 10-00 to 19-00, closed on Sunday;
• Ticket prices: 4 €, there are discounts for students and seniors, up to 14 years old admission is free.

By the way, this object is located in: within walking distance there are restaurants, shops, and major attractions.

Science Museum

If you decide to visit the Science Museum in Lisbon, you can take a walk in the Park of Nations. The exposition is displayed in the building where the Expo in 1998 was held. During the international event, the Knowledge Pavilion was located here.

The museum began to receive visitors in the summer of 1999. Permanent exhibitions are held here:

• "Research" - displays several main areas of activity, information stands are posted on the main achievements and successes, you can also conduct fascinating experiments on your own;
• Look and Do - here visitors can show their courage and lie down on a board with nails, ride a car with square wheels, send a real rocket flying;
• “Unfinished House” - this exposition is most loved by children, because they can try on an astronaut's suit, turn into a real builder, having mastered different professions.

There is also a store where you can buy scientific and creative kits, educational toys, thematic books on various sciences.

Interesting fact! According to statistics, almost 1000 people visit the facility every day.

Contacts and prices:

• Where to find: Largo José Mariano Gago, Parque das Nações, Lisbon;
• Schedule: from Tuesday to Friday from 10-00 to 18-00, on Saturday and Sunday from 11-00 to 19-00, closed on Monday;
• Visit cost: adults - 9 €, children from 3 to 6 years old and pensioners - 5 €, from 7 to 17 years old - 6 €, babies under 2 years old are admitted free.

It is located nearby, allowing you to combine cultural activities with shopping.

National Museum of Ancient Art

The largest metropolitan gallery, within the walls of which thousands of unique works of art are collected - paintings, sculptures, antiques (14-19 centuries).

Initially, the museum belonged to the Church of St. Francis, but as the exposition increased, an additional building had to be built.

The exhibits are presented on several floors:

• 1st floor - creations of European masters;
• 2nd floor - works of art brought from Africa and Asia, the exposition covers the period from the Middle Ages to the present day;
• 3rd floor - the work of local craftsmen.

The famous painting by Bosch "The Temptation of St. Anthony" is the most popular among the visitors.

Important information:

• Where to look: Rua das Janelas Verdes 1249 017, Lisbon 1249-017, Portugal
• Open: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10-00 to 18-00, closed on Monday;
• Price full ticket: 6 €.

Portugal is known all over the world as a maritime power, a country of ships. Not surprisingly, one of the most popular and visited museums is the Maritime Museum. Its exposition is dedicated to the peculiarities of the structure of ships. More than 15 thousand exhibits are collected within the walls of the museum, the most interesting are life-size caravels and sailing ships.

Interesting to know! The Maritime Museum does not occupy a separate building, but is located directly in the Jeronimos Temple. One of the exhibits - a sailing frigate - is moored on the river, and everyone can climb on its deck.

Walking through the museum, visit the Discovery Hall, where the personal belongings of the discoverers are collected, and the Royal Cabins Hall, where the chambers in which representatives of the royal families traveled are recreated.

Information for visitors:

• Address: Empire Square, Belem;
• Visit time: from October to May from 10-00 to 17-00, from June to September from 10-00 to 18-00;
• Price: varies from 4 to 11.20 € depending on the exhibitions attended. All prices can be found on museu.marinha.pt.

Lisbon can offer its guests a wide range of interesting museums, art galleries and cultural exhibitions. It is easy to find a museum here for all tastes, from museums with collections of classical art to highly specialized museums, galleries of contemporary art and educational informative museums. This article will introduce you to the best museums in Lisbon and their most famous exhibits.

Review of the best museums in Lisbon

Lisbon's top five museums
- The museum is dedicated to the traditional craft of painting Azulejo clay tiles
- Showcased one of Europe's finest private collections of art and artifacts
National Museum of Antiquity arts- A huge collection of paintings reflecting the development of national art
- Unique collection of vintage horse carriages
Berardo Museum of Contemporary Art- Modernism, pop art gallery

Alternative museums and galleries
Ciência Viva-Agência Nacional- Interactive Science Museum - ideal for families with children
Lisbon History Center- A great place to get to know the history of Lisbon before getting to know the city
Lisbon Oceanarium- Amazing marine aquarium, one of the best aquariums in Europe
The calçada da glória- A street where you can admire the real masterpieces of street art in all its forms
LxFactory- An art space that hides numerous controversial works of art

The distinctive blue and white glazed azulejo tiles that adorn not only stately palaces but also modest homes can be considered the most popular art form in Portugal. The National Museum introduces us to the evolution of traditional clay tile painting, from its inception during the Moorish era (10th century) to the present day. Here you can see some of the most famous works of azulejo tiles.

The exhibits of the museum are arranged in chronological order, and many of the paintings and canvases created by the masters of azulejos are devoted to a religious theme, but there are exceptions, such as the panel "Wedding of the Chickens"!

The traditional colors of Portuguese azulejo tiles are blue and white, but early and Flemish designs often used color combinations.

Panel "Wedding of Chickens" created from azulejo tiles ... ..

The museum is located in a kind of Monastery of the Mother of God, and its exhibition halls surround the central cloister of the monastery. The Nev Convent has been completely restored and is a true masterpiece of Baroque art, richly covered with gilding.

The pearl of the museum:“Panorama of Lisbon” is a 35-meter mural depicting the Lisbon waterfront, which was created before the devastating earthquake of 1755.

Useful information: The Azulejo National Museum is located 2.5 km from the city center, but oddly enough, it is not so easy to get to. The only way to get to the museum is by taking bus 759 or by hiring a taxi (€ 5-6)
Official website: http://www.museudoazulejo.gov.pt

One part of the panel "Panorama of Lisbon" shows the Lisbon castle and the Alfama district before the earthquake of 1755

The National Museum of Ancient Art is the national art gallery of Portugal, which contains a huge collection of various exhibits (over 40,000), including many outstanding works and art objects by Portuguese authors.

The museum was founded in 1834 to collect and preserve the treasures and religious art of the monasteries after the collapse of the religious orders in Portugal. Since then, the collection has been constantly replenished with national treasures and examples of world and Portuguese art, and now it is a huge collection of various exhibits, which will take you half a day to familiarize yourself with.

The "Temptations of Saint Antony" is such an involved painting it needs time to sit and admire

Museum pearls:
The Altar of Saint Vincent is a series of six paintings depicting the worship of King John and his children to Saint Vincent.
Unique Japanese namban screens illustrating the arrival of the Portuguese caravels. It is noteworthy that they were not going to be exhibited outside Japan, most likely because the Portuguese are depicted on them as dirty barbarians.
Official website: http://museudearteantiga.pt/

The 16th century Japanese considered the Portuguese Namban-jin (southern barbarians), and Namban-style screens describe their arrival.

This 1514 graphic depiction of Hell is one of the finest dramatic works of art in the collection.

The Calouste Gulbencken Museum houses one of the world's finest private art collections. That is why a visit to this museum can be a real holiday, and not only for true connoisseurs of art. Numerous exhibits in the museum represent different eras and genres: from Greek, Eastern Islamic and Egyptian artifacts to works and objects of classical European Renaissance art and exquisite silverware by French jewelers.

The collection was put together by the Armenian oil tycoon Calouste Gulbenken, who emigrated to Lisbon during World War II. With huge funds, he could afford to acquire the best and most valuable artifacts and works of art for which this museum is famous. The Calouste Gulbencken Museum is surrounded by tranquil and beautiful gardens; it also houses the Coleção Moderna, a museum displaying works by contemporary Portuguese authors.

The Oriental-Islamic art

The collection includes beautiful artefacts from the far east

Our advice: The Calouste Gulbencken Museum and the National Museum of Ancient Art complement each other. When visiting Lisbon, we recommend that you visit both museums, but not on the same day.

Museum pearls:"Portrait of an Old Man" by Rembrandt (1645)
Sculpture "Diana" (1780), created for the Russian Tsarina Catherine II, which was removed from the courtyard, considering it too frank and naked.
Official website: https://gulbenkian.pt/

The National Carriage Museum is one of the hidden gems of Lisbon's cultural heritage. It houses one of the largest collections of antique horse-drawn carriages that once belonged to the Portuguese, Spanish and French royal families.

These stately and lush vehicles exude the luxury and wealth of the European elite. They amaze with their rich decoration, splendor, luxury and splendor of woodcarving. The collection mainly features ceremonial or ceremonial carriages, but there are also postal stagecoaches and even carriages for children.

Most of the carriages are in a modern building

Some older carriages are on display in the former royal riding arena

Don't miss the opportunity: The National Carriage Museum was formerly located on the grounds of the former royal riding arena, which is part of the Belém Palace. Don't miss the opportunity to visit this magnificent palace with your entrance ticket.

The most famous exhibits of the museum:
The carriage that King Filipe rode in 1670 is the oldest carriage in the collection
The carriage in which King Carlos and his son Luis Filipe were killed in 1908
Miniature carriages for children.
Official website:http://museudoscoches.gov.pt/pt/

Berardo Museum of Contemporary Art

If you are tired of religious art, as well as objects and works of art created by masters of previous eras, presented in the museums mentioned above, visit the Berardo Museum of Contemporary Art. It houses a private collection of contemporary surreal, abstract and pop art works by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon and Andy Warhol.

The permanent exhibition of this excellent museum is divided into two periods (1900-1960 and 1960-2010) and includes a number of outstanding works. The Berardo Museum is located in the Belém Cultural Center near the Monastery of the Jeronimites. This is a great place to hide from the tourist crowds that flood the Belém area.
Official website:http://museuberardo.pt

Lisbon History Center

The Lisbon History Center is a museum complex that will introduce Lisbon guests to the history of the city and tell about its sights that they can see during their stay in the Portuguese capital, using interactive models and screens, as well as an audio guide. This museum is the best place to visit before you start exploring the city.
Official website:https://lisboastorycentre.pt/

Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology

The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology is a huge innovative complex, the exhibits of which will cause an ambiguous reaction from visitors. The museum is located in two different buildings: the building of the former power plant (where the Electricity Museum used to be) and the new ultra-modern building, the exposition of which is regularly updated.

In the museum building, where the former power plant is located, old boilers, turbines and generators have been completely restored. This part of the museum will surely attract the attention of those interested in industrial equipment. The main halls of the museum, the exposition of which is regularly updated, are located on the lower levels of the modern building.

Advice: Sometimes exhibits of an abstract genre are exhibited here, which are not of particular interest. Therefore, before buying an entrance ticket, make sure that the presented exposition is worth your attention.
Official website:https://ccm.marinha.pt/pt/museu

Want to know more about Portuguese history and culture? Wonderful!
Here is a selection of the 10 best museums in Lisbon.

1. Lisbon Interactive Museum (Lisboa Story Center)
Located in the heart of the city, on the Market Square (Pra ça do Comércio / Terreiro do Paço), the museum will present the history of the Portuguese capital in an interesting and interactive way.
Lisboa Story Center

Terreiro do Paço, nº 78 a 81
1100-148 LISBOA

Terreiro do Paço, nº 78 a 81
1100-148 LISBOA

Terreiro do Paço, nº 78 a 81
1100-148 LISBOA

Terreiro do Paço Nº78-81
1100-148 Lisboa
(metro station Terreiro do Paço, blue line)

2. National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azuleijo)
Portuguese art and everyday life have been continuously associated with the production of ceramics and tiles for many centuries, and therefore this topic cannot be ignored! The museum has a wonderful collection of artifacts, as well as the production processes and history of this unique craft.
Museu Nacional do Azulejo
Rua da Madre de Deus Nº4
1900-312 Lisboa
(bus Nº728 goes from the Market Square)

3. Fado Museum (Museu do Fado)
»Athens created sculpture, Rome invented law, Paris invented revolution, Germany discovered mysticism. And what did Lisbon create? Fado. " - said the Portuguese writer. Fado's urban romance became the voice of Lisbon. Moreover, it is not at all necessary to know the Portuguese language in order to be imbued with lyric songs filled with love, sadness, and hope. The Fado Museum will help you discover this romantic and somewhat mystical world of Lisbon romance.
Museu do Fado
Largo do Chafariz de Dentro Nº1
1100-139 Lisboa
(Santa Apolónia metro station, blue line)

4. Monastery of Jeronimos / Jerónimos (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos)
A unique monument of the Manueline style and in the past a monastery, which is under the protection of UNESCO, is now a museum and is open to everyone who wants to touch (in the literal sense!) The history of the Age of Discovery and Portuguese architecture. The monastery is located in the picturesque suburb of Belem, not far from the center of the capital.
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
Praça do Império
1400-206 Lisboa
(from the center of Lisbon there are buses Nº

5. Museum of the Sea (Museu de Marinha)
Here, in the Belem area, there is another interesting museum dedicated to the Portuguese navy and navigation - the Museum of the Sea. Home to some of the world's greatest explorers and explorers, don't miss the chance to get to know the country's maritime history and themes!
Museu de Marinha
Praça do Império, 1400-206 Lisboa (to the left of the Monastery of the Jeronimites)
(from the center there are buses Nº 727, 728, 729, 714 and 751, as well as tram No. 15E)

6. Museum of carriages (Museu dos Coches)
Founded by the last Portuguese queen in 1905, the museum now boasts a world-unique, varied and numerous collection, including beautiful royal carriages from the 17th-19th centuries. In 2015, the collection moved to a new spacious pavilion located in the already mentioned Belem area. Don't miss out on this beauty!
Museu dos coches
Avenida da Índia Nº136
1300-004 Lisboa
(from the center there are buses Nº 727, 728, 729, 714 and 751, as well as tram No. 15E)

7. Museum Calouste Gulbenkian (Museu Calouste Gulbenkian)
One of the most valuable art collections in Europe, if not the world, was donated to Portugal by the tycoon Calouste Gulbenkian. As part of a foundation established in honor of the owner, the museum contains both European art and exhibits from the Oriental and ancient world. In addition to the uniqueness of the museum itself, the buildings of the foundation are surrounded by a marvelous garden with many exotic plants. This place is located near the center of Lisbon, next to the El Corte Inglés shopping center.
Museu Calouste Gulbenkian
Avenida de Berna Nº45-A
1067-001 Lisboa
(São Sebastião metro station, blue / red line)

8. National Museum of Ancient Art (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga)
The museum possesses the most valuable collection of 17th-19th century art in the country. In addition to an impressive share of European antique art, here you can find exhibits of Oriental and African art - the legacy of the first discoveries made by the Portuguese in Asia and Africa. The museum has a cafe with a beautiful garden overlooking the Tagus River.
Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga
Rua das Janelas Verdes
1249-017 Lisboa
(from the center there are buses Nº 727, 728, 732, 760, as well as trams Nº 15E, 18E)

9. Museum of the Orient (Museu do Oriente)
The museum is dedicated to the relationship between Western and Eastern civilizations, in which the Portuguese played a decisive role. The collection of Portuguese and Oriental art contained here presents the history of interaction between such different and distant worlds; a story that will reveal to you a lot of unknown and surprising.
Museu do Oriente
Avenida de Brasília, Doca de Alcântara (Norte),
Lisbon
(from the center there are buses Nº 720, 727, 728, as well as trams Nº15E and 18E)

10. Museum of Saint Roque (Museu de São Roque)
Also known as the Museum of Religious or Sacred Art, it is part of the Church of Saint Roca. A modest and inconspicuous building on the outside actually hides a rare luxury and beauty inside. The museum houses a collection of paintings depicting scenes of Jesuit saints by renowned Portuguese masters, jewelry exhibits, sculptures and objects of worship. The main relic of the museum is the chapel of St. John the Baptist, donated by Rome to Lisbon.
Museu de São Roque
Largo Trindade Coelho (next to the observation deck of Sao Pedro de Alcantara)
1200-470 Lisboa
(buses 758 and 790, as well as the Gloria funicular)

What about ? I am Welcome to Lisbon, friends!

Your guide in Lisbon,
Olesya Rabetskaya