House of Parliament Interpretation Centre
Opposite São Bento, four interactive floors explain the history and workings of Portuguese democracy. Free admission.
House of Parliament – Interpretation Centre – Casa Amarela
Opened on 25 April 2024 to mark fifty years of democracy, the House of Parliament – Interpretation Centre is the space the Assembly of the Republic devotes to the history, workings and values of Portuguese democracy. It stands in the so-called Casa Amarela (Yellow House), on Rua de São Bento, opposite the Parliament building, and its permanent exhibition, interactive and designed for all ages, is spread over four floors: Citizenship, Memory, Parliament and Democracy. On the Citizenship floor, visitors learn about their rights and duties and the ways of taking part in parliamentary activity, can choose protest songs by Zeca Afonso, José Mário Branco or Capicua on a jukebox, and find a gallery for temporary exhibitions. The Memory floor recalls the continuous occupation of the Monastery and Palace of São Bento and the evolution of Parliament's spaces, with re-enactments of landmark debates, a gallery of illustrious parliamentarians and an auditorium open to civil-society organisations. On the Parliament floor, moments in the plenary and in committees can be simulated, and visitors may record a speech at a replica of the speaker's rostrum; the Democracy floor explains the organs of sovereignty, the legislative process, the Constitution, the D'Hondt method and the parties' election campaigns since 1975. Admission is free.
Located at: Assembleia da República
Address: Rua de São Bento, 148, Lisboa
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00-18:00 (closed on Sundays); free admission
Phone: +351 213 919 414
Coordinates: 38.7123706, -9.1526243
Buses: 773, 706, 727, 22B, 67B, 19B, 713
Tram: 28E, 25E
Metro: Rato (Yellow)
Train: Cascais Line, Santos Station, Cascais Line, Cais do Sodré Station
Opened: 2024 (2 years)
