So this Sunday we got up early and decided to visit 3 museum's in Lisbon.
We started off with the Museu do Azulejo and I was totally blown away by it's beautiful display and organisation.
The **Museu Nacional do Azulejo** (National Tile Museum), is one of the most unique museums in the country, dedicated to the art of decorative ceramic tiles that are a key part of Portuguese culture and history.
It is housed in the former Madre de Deus Convent, a 16th-century building with stunning baroque architecture.
It showcases the evolution of azulejos from the 15th century to the present, featuring Moorish, Renaissance, Baroque, and contemporary styles.
It highlights the **Panorama of Lisbon**, a massive 23-meter tile panel from 1738 that depicts Lisbon before the 1755 earthquake, which is a must-see.
I REALLY RECOMMEND YOU VISIT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS:-
- Experience Portugal’s **tile-making traditions** and how they shaped architecture and design.
- See the stunning **church of Madre de Deus**, which has intricate gold carvings and tilework.
- Learn about how azulejos were used to tell stories, from religious themes to daily life scenes.
After visiting the Tile Museum we took a little break for ☕️ and 🍺 and naturally pasties de Belém.
Our own Mannekin Pis?
From here we went off to see the Museu de Arte Antiga.
The Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (MNAA) in Lisbon is Portugal’s premier museum for ancient art, showcasing an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts from the Middle Ages to the early 19th century. Highlights include masterpieces by Hieronymus Bosch, Albrecht Dürer, and Portuguese artists like Nuno Gonçalves. The museum also houses stunning pieces of furniture, ceramics, and goldwork, reflecting Portugal’s rich cultural and colonial history.
Woot! By the end of the visit, I gotta admit—most of the paintings started looking the same. But hey, that’s probably just me not being much of an artsy person!
By the time we left the Museu de Arte Antiga we needed to get food into our tummies 😉
Our last visit of the day would be to the Museu Nacional de Etnologia.
The **Museu Nacional de Etnologia** (National Museum of Ethnology) is a museum in **Lisbon, Portugal**, dedicated to the study, preservation, and exhibition of ethnographic collections from around the world. It focuses on both Portuguese-speaking cultures and diverse global communities, offering a deep insight into human cultural heritage.
**Key Features of the Museum:**
- **Extensive Collections:** The museum houses over **40,000 artifacts** from Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe, with a special emphasis on **Portuguese-speaking regions** such as Angola, Mozambique, Brazil, and Timor-Leste.
- **Traditional Arts & Crafts:** It showcases indigenous and folk art, textiles, masks, musical instruments, ritual objects, and everyday items.
- **Research & Documentation:** The museum is an important center for **ethnographic research**, particularly in anthropology and material culture.
- **Permanent & Temporary Exhibits:** While it has a core collection, it frequently hosts **rotating exhibitions** on specific cultures, themes, and traditions.
**Highlights:**
- A renowned collection of **African masks and sculptures**.
- Portuguese maritime and colonial-era artifacts.
- Traditional **Timorese houses** and textiles.
- Ethnographic photography and audiovisual archives.
**Location & Accessibility:**
The Museu Nacional de Etnologia is located in **Belém**, a historic district of Lisbon, near other cultural landmarks like the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower.
Samora Machel, president of Mozambique and the biggest terrorist.
After three museums in one day, my brain is now a beautifully curated exhibit of art, history, and 'where did I see that again?' Until next time, museum halls—I'll be back for more awe and sore feet!"
Remember you can visit Monuments and Museums for free if you're a Portuguese national or residing in Portugal 🇵🇹
