Monuments, Museums and Local Atractions – My Martinhal Chiado

Museums & Local Attractions

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Museums

Maritime Museum

The Navy Museum (Portuguese: Museu de Marinha) of Lisbon is dedicated to all aspects of the History of navigation in Portugal. The museum is administered by the Portuguese Navy and is located in the tourist district of Belém.

It occupies a part of the neo-Manueline Western wing of the Jerónimos Monastery with the National Museum of Archaeology, as well as a modern annex built to the North of the monastery.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium is part of the Maritime Museum and offer amazing show about the solar system and the mysteries of the universe.

National Carriage Museum

Presents the lavish transportation vehicles of Portuguese royalty. It is housed in the Belem Palace and represents the world’s largest and most valuable collection of this type.

National Tile Museum

The National Tile Museum was established in 1965 and became a National Museum in 1980. It is located in the former Convent of Madre Deus, founded by Queen D. Leonor in 1509.

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

Founded in conformity with Calouste Gulbenkian’s last will and testament, the museum accommodates the art collection of the similarly-named Foundation, that includes ancient and, some, modern art.

National Museum of Ancient Art

Important one for art lovers. This national gallery showcases pieces of art from the 14th to the 20th century, including the “Veneration of St. Vincent”, regarded as the most important of the Portuguese paintings in the museum.

Ajuda National Palace Museum

A neo-classical building from the first half of the 19th century, the palace was the residence of the Portuguese royal family from the reign of King D. Luís I (1861-1889) to the end of the monarchy in 1910. Queen D. Maria Pia de Sabóia (1847-1911) brought life back to the palace in 1862.

Jeronimos Monastery

The Jeronimos Monastery is the most impressive symbol of Portugal’s power and wealth during the Age of Discovery. King Manuel I built it in 1502 on the site of a hermitage founded by Prince Henry the Navigator, where Vasco da Gama and his crew spent their last night in Portugal in prayer before sailling for India.

MAAT - Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology

Is a new cultural proposal for the city of Lisbon. A museum that combines these three fields in a space for debate, discovery, critical thinking and international dialogue. An innovative project that brings together a new building, designed by the architect Amanda Levete, and the Tejo Power Station, an example of Portuguese industrial architecture from the first half of the 20th century, and one of the most visited museums in the country.

Orient Museum

The idea of opening in Lisbon a museum dedicated to the Orient coincides with the establishment of the Fundação Oriente, in 1988. Following a Portuguese tradition, the Foundation allowed itself to be guided by its vocation to build links between civilizations in the West and in the East that have became indispensable to guarantee a peaceful future in the 21st century.

Pavilion of Knowledge - Ciência Viva

Is the largest interactive science centre in Lisbon. Originally the building was part of the 1998 Lisbon World Fair as one of its most iconic pavilions - the Pavilion of the Knowledge of the Seas. During the event visitors from all over the world were invited on a journay across the seas from an historical, technical and human perspective.

CCB - Centro Cultural de Belém

Centro Cultural de Belém is run by a foundation that aims to promote culture, developing creation and promotion of it in all its forms, from theatre to dance, from classical music to jazz, from opera to cinema. As a complementary activity, the CCB is also a centre for conferences and professional events.

House of the Stories of Paula Rego

The London-based painter Paula Rego (currently the bestknown Portuguese plastic artist of her generation) has chosen Cascais to display some of her most impressive artpieces. The House of Stories museum was designed by the architect Eduardo Souto de Moura and is located in Cascais city centre.

Pena's Park and National Palace

The Pena National Palace is a Romanticist palace in São Pedro de Penaferrim, in the municipality of Sintra, Portugal. Deignated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta da Regaleira is an estate located near the historic center of Sintra, Portugal. It is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO within the “Cultural Landscape of Sintra”.

Sintra's National Palace

It is the best preserved medieval Royal Palace in Portugal. It is an significant tourist attraction, and is part of the cultural landscape of Sintra, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Monuments

Monument to the Discoveries

Across from Jeronimos Monastery, reached via an underpass by its gardens, is the Discoveries Monument, built on the north bank of the Tagus River, it was rebuilt in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator.

Belem Tower

Built in 1515 as a fortress to guard the entrance to Lisbon’s harbour, the Belem Tower was the starting point for many of the voyages of discovery, and for the sailors it was the last sight of their homeland.

Castle of São Jorge

Overlooking the Alfama is the mediaeval Castle of São Jorge, royal residence until the early 16th century after serving as a Moorish royal residence. It is now a peaceful place with the best views of the city.

Santa Justa Lift

One of the city’s best-loved landmarks and also known as the “Elevator of Carmo,” this extraordinary structure was built in 1901 by the Portuguese-born French architect Raoul de Mesnier du Ponsard (an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel, explaining the structure’s similarities to Paris’ Eiffel Tower), to connect downtown to Bairro Alto (the lowest and highest points of the city). Originally powered by steam, it is 45 meters (147ft) high, and remains an interesting example of post-Eiffel iron architecture. The top of the Neo-Gothic tower, reached via a spiral staircase, has a cafe with splendid views of the city, including over Rossio Square, the castle and the river.

Cabo da Roca

The coast of northern Portugal curves dramatically down to Europe’s most westerly point, Cabo da Roca, then shortly afterwards turns a sharp corner to run east towards the capital. Cascais, planted elegantly on the shoreline, was settled sequentially by Romans, Visigoths and Moors.

Theme Parks

Lisbon Zoo

At Lisbon Zoo, you will travel around the world without leaving Lisbon. Sea Lions, snakes, gorillas and chimpanzees, elephants, giraffes, pelicans, okapis and lemurs are some of the species that can be found. There is also a Children’s Farm where you can learn all about domestic animals, an amusement park and a cable car with amazing views.

Lisbon Oceanarium

Lisbon’s Oceanarium is one of the world’s largest aquariums. Designed by American architect Peter Chermeyeff, it rises from the river and is reached by a footbridge.

Kidzania

KidZania is a theme park for whole families with children up to 15 years old. The little ones can try out more than 60 professions and adults can accompany them all the way, enjoying a unique and unrepeatable moment in this city built to children’s scale.

Monsanto Forest Park - Serafina Park

The Monsanto Forest Park is the largest green space in Lisbon and has been laid out with a solid leisure and sports infrastructure, such as the amazing children playground at Parque da Serafina (also known as Parque dos Indios) Monsanto Forest also enjoys stunning views of Lisbon city and river.