National Museum of Ancient Art

National Museum of Ancient Art – Alvor Palace

Founded in 1884, the National Museum of Ancient Art has occupied since its creation the palace built in the late 17th century for the 1st Count of Alvor, D. Francisco de Távora, after his return from India, where he had been viceroy. The building was the residence of Daniel Gildemeester, who renovated its interiors, and belonged to the family of the Marquis of Pombal until it was bought by the State in 1883 to house the National Museum of Fine Arts. It retains ceilings with quadratura painting attributed to Vincenzo Bacherelli and rocaille stuccowork attributable to Giovanni Grossi, and was enlarged with the chapel of the vanished convent of Santo Alberto, lined with gilded woodwork and tiles, and with the west wing by the architect Guilherme Rebelo de Andrade, in the 1930s and 1940s. With more than 40,000 items, it holds the most important Portuguese public collection of painting, sculpture, goldsmithing and decorative arts, from Europe, Africa and the East, from the Middle Ages to the dawn of the modern era, and the largest number of works classified as national treasures; among them are the Panels of Saint Vincent, the subject of a long study and restoration. Closed since 29 September 2025 for works under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, it partially reopens on 21 November 2026, with free admission until 1 December.

Located at: Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga
Address: Rua das Janelas Verdes, 1249-017 Lisboa
Opening hours: Closed for works; reopens on 21 November 2026 (free admission until 1 December). Thereafter: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00 (closed on Mondays, 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 13 June and 25 December)
Phone: +351 213 912 800
Coordinates: 38.7047853, -9.1614657
Buses: 713, 714, 727, 728, 732, 760, 67B, 774
Tram: 15E, 18E, 25E
Train: Cascais Line, Santos Station
Opened: 1884 (142 years)