Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, or the National Museum of Ancient Art, is probably one of the most important museum in Portugal. Because of the collection, it is also an important museum in Europe. The museum is housed in a former palace and an old monastery.
The museum collection, which has a lot of pieces from the Middle Ages to the early 19th century, has been extended from paintings to furniture to textiles, visual arts and other decorative arts that mainly deal with religion. There are many changing exhibitions in the museum.
On a rainy day the museum is a great option, but I do not advise you to go there with children.
Grab a bite
If you want to have something to eat after viewing the collection, you can get a sandwich at the Boulangerie. This is a small café in Rua Olival, you’ll get there when you walk up Largo Dr. José Figueiredo. When the weather is fair, the Boulangerie has a small terrace outside. The food is simple and not typically Portuguese. If you want more choice, go to Time-Out Mercado da Ribeira, Lisbon’s food hall.
How to get to the museum
The museum is located between Cais do Sodré and Belém, so on your way from or to Pastéis de Belém (obviously!). The admission fee is relatively low, just 6 euros – seniors also get a 50% discount.
Address: R. das Janelas Verdes
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. | museum is closed on monday and public holidays
If you want to know which exhibition there is, check out the museum’s website: http://www.museudearteantiga.pt
