Lisbon Photographic Archive
On Rua da Palma, Lisbon City Council's image archive, with 600,000 photographs and regular exhibitions.
Lisbon Municipal Archive – Photographic Archive
On Rua da Palma, next to Martim Moniz, the Photographic Archive is the branch of the Lisbon Municipal Archive devoted to images and one of the places in the city where photography is regularly exhibited. Its origins go back to 25 March 1942, the date of the municipal resolution that formally created it, under the Propaganda and Tourism Section, to bring together and preserve the photographic output scattered across the City Council's various departments, with the task of "recording all municipal works, municipal services and events". After several changes of premises, it settled in 1994 at number 246 Rua da Palma, in a building specially adapted to house it. The holdings comprise some 600,000 photographic items, processed and preserved daily by a specialist team, and the archive also has a specialist library. The collection is developed through the regular acquisition of photographic estates, partnerships with similar institutions and the production of exhibitions, shown in the building's exhibition room or on tour; in 2026, for example, it displayed photographs taken by Gérard Castello-Lopes between 1956 and 2005. The programme includes guided tours, some designed for blind and partially sighted visitors, by prior booking.
Located at: Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa
Address: Rua da Palma, 246, 1100-394 Lisboa
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00-18:00 (closed on Sundays and public holidays)
Phone: +351 218 171 330
Coordinates: 38.7181886, -9.1355514
Buses: 760, 708, 734, 736, 17B, 13B, 723
Tram: 28E, 12E
Metro: Martim Moniz (Green), Intendente (Green)
Train: Sintra Line, Rossio Station
Opened: 1994 (32 years)
