Casa dos Bicos

Museum of Lisbon – Casa dos Bicos

Beside the Tagus, on Rua dos Bacalhoeiros, the Casa dos Bicos is one of the most representative examples of sixteenth-century civil architecture in Lisbon. It was built for Brás de Albuquerque, son of Afonso de Albuquerque and first president of Lisbon's municipal senate; neither the exact date nor the architect is known, but 1523 is held to be the likely start of the works. The name comes from the façade faced with stones cut into diamond points, the 'bicos'. In 1983 the house hosted a section of the 17th European Exhibition of Art, Science and Culture, and today it is part of the Museum of Lisbon, sharing the building with the José Saramago Foundation, housed on the upper floors. On the ground floor, the archaeological section displays structures found in excavations carried out on the site since 1981, which reveal how this stretch of the riverfront evolved from the Roman period to the present day. From the Roman city of Olisipo there are the remains of a factory for fish preparations and sauces, probably set up in the first century beside the river beach, and a stretch of wall with a semicircular tower, evidence of the defensive strengthening of Roman cities from the late third century; other remains show that the medieval wall incorporated the old Roman wall at this point. Admission to the archaeological section is free, and there is a guided tour every Saturday at 11:00, with no booking required.

Located at: Museu de Lisboa
Address: Rua dos Bacalhoeiros, 10, 1100-135 Lisboa
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00-18:00 (last admission 17:30; closed on Sundays, 1 January, 1 May, 24, 25 and 31 December)
Phone: +351 210 993 811
Coordinates: 38.709058, -9.1326586
Buses: 10B, 728, 735, 759, 781, 782, 737, 794, 706, 711
Tram: 12E, 28E, 15E, 25E
Metro: Terreiro do Paço (Blue), Baixa-Chiado (Blue, Green)
Train: Sintra Line, Rossio Station
Boat: Terreiro do Paço River Station
Opened: 1523 (503 years)