As expected in a great European cosmopolitan capital city, Lisbon is crammed with numerous museums and art galleries, boasting dozens of public and private collections. The museums vary from ancient to modern and come in different categories including cultural, artistic, scientific and even fashion types.
Lisbon museums are ideal for both adults and children: the City Museum, for instance, is where you can learn all about the city’s past, its history and evolution, while children adore the Museu da Marioneta, which exhibits over five hundred puppets. With both remembered and celebrated rich history Lisbon museums provide a perfect base for a perfect weekend cultural city break!
Here are some of the most prominent Lisbon museums that never fail to dazzle locals and international travelers alike:
Berardo Museum
Installed in the Belem Cultural Center, the Berardo Collection Museum is a famous art destination in Lisbon that opened its doors to public in June of 2007. The museum is frequented by modern art connoisseurs and artistically inclined tourists who want to experience the art works of Pablo Picasso, Dali, Piet Mondrian, Roy Lichtenstein, Jackson Polock, Jeff Koons and Andy Warhol. Highlights to look for include Picasso’s ‘Tête de Femme,’ Andy Warhol’s ‘Ten Foot Flowers’ and ‘Portrait of Judy Garland,’ as well as Fracis Bacon’s ‘Oedipus and the Sphinx after Ingres (1983).’ The museum is open every day from 10:00am to 7:00 pm and the admission is free.
National Museum of Ancient Art
Founded in 1884, Lisbon’s National Museum of Art treasures all the gems of the ancient national art of Portugal, including 12th to early 19th-century European paintings, pottery, jewels, sculptures, artifacts of the contacts of Portugal with Africa and the East and ecclesiastic articles. Located near the Tagus River, the museum occupies the palace of the counts of Alvor and the old convent of Santo Alberto. ‘Temptation of ST. Anthony’ by Durer, the ‘Veneration of ST. Vincent’ portraying 15th century personalities like Henry the Navigator, and the world-famous ‘Monstrance of Belem’ made from the first shipment gold brought home by Vasco da Gama are some of the museum’s most valuable treasures.
Design and Fashion Museum (MUDE)
This is one of the world’s leading museums of the 20th century design and one of Lisbon’s most important museums, housing some of the best clothes collections in Europe. MUDE is the creation of Francioso Capelo – a retired Portuguese businessman, who gathered the collection’s 3,000 pieces, sold it to the city for a small part of value and now presides over the board of directors. The works over 230 designers are found in the museum, representing the newest tendencies in fashion around the world, from graphic to urban, mass production to the creation of the artist.
Electricity Museum
This museum hosts a very interesting display of the evolution of energy through experimental and themed exhibitions and various cultural events. Here you can see a very elaborate demonstration of the work and operation of the former Tejo Power Station, which with the help of the original machines provided Lisbon power for a very long time. Moreover, you can also enjoy concerts, theatre performances, conferences, demonstration of solar power, educational games and much more. This museum is both informative and entertaining.
National Museum of Tile Mosaics – the art of the azulejo
Blessed with the only collection of its kind, Tile Museum is another important museum in Portugal that is counted among the most significant national depositories because of its huge collection of tiles that are artistic manifestations of the unique Portuguese culture. Even the old Convent of Madre de Deus — the building in which this museum has been installed, is pretty unique, featuring a gift shop where tourists can find many wonderful suveniirs.
Other outstanding museums include Galouste Gulbenkian Museum; Maritime Museum; the National Coach Museum and the Orient Museum.