Museu Nacional De Arte Antiga

The Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga is Lisbon's premier art museum, located in a former 17th-century palace overlooking the Tagus River. It houses an extensive collection of European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, with a strong emphasis on Portuguese artists. The museum is particularly famous for its 'Namban' screens depicting Portuguese traders in Japan, and Hieronymus Bosch's 'Temptations of St. Anthony.' Visitors can explore galleries filled with gold and silverware, ceramics, and textiles, as well as a tranquil garden café. The museum's layout is chronological, allowing you to trace the evolution of art in Portugal and its connections with Europe, Africa, and Asia. Highlights include the 'Panels of São Vicente de Fora' by Nuno Gonçalves, a masterpiece of Portuguese Gothic painting. The building itself is a work of art, with ornate ceilings and period rooms that enhance the experience.

Don't miss

• The 'Panels of São Vicente de Fora', a 15th-century polyptych by Nuno Gonçalves depicting 58 figures, including a possible portrait of Prince Henry the Navigator.
• Hieronymus Bosch's 'Temptations of St. Anthony', a triptych of surreal and grotesque scenes.
• Namban screens, Japanese folding screens from the 16th-17th centuries showing Portuguese traders and missionaries.
• The Treasury, a room of gold and silverware, including the Custódia de Belém, a 16th-century monstrance.
• The garden café with views of the Tagus River, a peaceful spot to rest.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Museu Nacional De Arte Antiga

Cheapest way inAlfama and Mouraria Tour - The oldest neighbourhoods in Lisbon4.9★ · 524 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$1 per personSee dates →Most bookedLisbon City Center Tour - The Unmissable Lisbon5★ · 24,654 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$3 per personSee dates →Private & flexible2 Hour Tuk Tuk Tour of the Old Town it will make you fall in love5★ · 115 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$58 per personSee dates →

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Know before you go

• Allow at least 2 hours to see the main collection. The museum is larger than it appears.
• Photography is allowed without flash in most areas. No tripods or selfie sticks.
• Audio guides are available in multiple languages and are worth the small fee for context.
• The on-site café offers light meals and drinks with a lovely garden terrace.

A bit of history

Founded in 1884, the museum was established to house the royal collections and works from dissolved monasteries. Its building, the Palácio Alvor, was built in the 17th century and later expanded to accommodate the growing collection.