Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga

Overview

The Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga is Portugal's premier fine arts museum, housing European painting from the 14th to 19th centuries in a 17th-century palace on the western waterfront. Its collections rival many national galleries across Europe.

Highlights

• Panels of Saint Vincent: Nuno Gonçalves' 15th-century polyptych, Portugal's most important painting.
• The Temptation of St Anthony: Hieronymus Bosch's fantastical triptych.
• Namban screens: Rare 16th-century Japanese folding screens depicting the arrival of Portuguese traders.

History

Established in 1884 in the Palácio dos Condes de Alvor-Pombal, the museum benefited from the dissolution of monasteries in 1834 and the republicanization of royal collections in 1910.

Visitor Tips

• Garden café: The terrace café overlooks the Tagus — a beautiful spot for a break.
• Tram 15E: Stops right outside the museum on the way to Belém.
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours.