One of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Lisbon is Portugal’s capital city. With numerous museums to visit, Portuguese culture is preserved in this city with an ancient history. This makes it a popular tourist destination for people who enjoy art and entertainment.
Fado Museum Lisbon
Located in the heart of the city, this museum preserves and collects materials related to Fado or Portuguese traditional music. It was founded by a group of friends who were captivated by the unique sounds and songs that revolve around Lisbon’s culture.
Museu Calouste Gulbenkian
This is a private museum that was established by Calouste Gulbenkian’s wife. It exhibits various types of art collections from all over Europe, which include paintings, sculptures, watches, textiles and even rare manuscripts. Visitors are allowed to tour the inside of the mansion as well as its extensive gardens.
Museu da Marinha
This museum is dedicated to preserving Portugal’s naval history. With numerous exhibits, visitors of all ages are encouraged to learn about the unique instruments created for battles at sea. The building itself was built in the 18th century by royal decree. It served as a naval hospital until 1970 when it became a museum in its current state.
Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga
With an impressive name, this is the National Museum of Ancient Art. With over 30,000 pieces in storage, it has been categorized into four separate galleries for visitors to view. The oldest piece dates back to 1510.
Museu Nacional dos Coches
This museum was once the royal stables. It now houses various types of coaches, sleighs and other ceremonial vehicles used throughout Portugal’s history. Buildings themselves are considered works of art with detailed carvings and paintings on their walls.
Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves
This is a contemporary art museum that features different types of arts from all over the world. With a garden that includes sculptures and other art pieces, visitors may take their time viewing each item one by one.
Museu do Teatro Romano
This small museum is located in one of the most well-preserved structures from ancient Rome. With remains still visible, visitors are encouraged to take photos and learn about these structures that have been preserved for centuries.
Museu Nacional do Azulejo
Located on the site of a former monastery, this museum is famous for housing different types of blue tile artwork that once decorated the monastery’s interior. With over 7000 pieces on display, visitors are invited to take their time viewing each collection. There is a fantastic tiled panorama of Lisbon on the top floor, and for this reason it is in my opinion one of the Best Museums in Lisbon.
Museu da Carris
This museum is dedicated to preserving Portugal’s history of transportation. It is located in Lisbon’s oldest working tramway station and houses various types of trams and engines. Although it has been remodeled throughout the years, this station still allows visitors to see how the station functioned, which was to provide transportation for locals.
National Archaeology Museum
There are several museums in Lisbon that cover different subjects including archaeology, history and contemporary art. One of the most popular museums in Lisbon is the National Archaeology Museum. The building was originally constructed to serve as a public library back in 1888, but it became the National Archaeology Museum in 1906 after it changed ownership.
National Art Gallery
National Art Gallery is another popular museum that features works by renowned artists that have shaped Portugal’s art history. Located in a 17th century building in the city center, this museum displays a range of paintings by artists who changed the course of Portuguese art through their works from the 12th to 20-century.
I hope that you enjoyed this blog on the Best Museums in Lisbon. You might also like to read more about the Lisbon Tile Museum.
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