SUN AND SIGHTS IN LISBON

Sun and Sights in Lisbon
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Diana Statue
A graceful marble 1780
statue by the French sculptor
Jean-Antoine Houdon is
unusual for the era in that it
depicts the goddess in
movement, and completely
naked. It belonged to
Catherine the Great of
Russia and was exhibited at
the Hermitage, where its
nudity caused scandal and
notoriety.
Lalique Collection
Gulbenkian was a close friend of the French Art
Nouveau jeweller René Lalique, and bought many of his
graceful pieces. In fact, this part of the museum has
almost too many.
Museu Calouste
Gulbenkian
Practical information
• Avenida de Berna 45A
• Map F1
• 21 782 30 00
• Open 10am–5:45pm Tue–Sun
• Admission €3; ticket to both museums €5
(children, students, over-65s free; free on Sun)
• www.museu.gulbenkian.pt
Top tips
• Taking in another museum in one day might be
pushing it, but the Centro de Arte Moderna José
Azeredo Perdigão – also part of the Gulbenkian
Foundation – has a good collection of contemporary
Portuguese art, and stages frequent temporary
shows.
• There are good cafés at both museums.
traveldk.com
The Spoils of Oil
Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian was an Armenian who
made a huge fortune negotiating the transfer of
assets between oil companies – each time earning
a five per cent commission. He came to Lisbon
during World War II, staying at the Hotel Aviz until
his death in 1955. His will stipulated that a
foundation be set up in Portugal to care for his vast
collection and to support the arts.
Museums and Galleries
Museu Calouste
Gulbenkian
The Armenian oil baron and
art collector Calouste
Gulbenkian is arguably the
single most important person
in Portuguese post-war
cultural life. His museum is a rare treat because it covers
so much in such a manageable way – and also because
it has pleasant gardens and a good contemporary arts
centre (see Museu Calouste Gulbenkian ).
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Museu Nacional de
Arte Antiga
Portugal’s national museum
provides a home for some
priceless national and
international icons. As of late
it does so in an innovative
and unstuffy way. Director
Dalila Rodrigues has
succeeded in upping visitor
numbers by almost a third by
unorthodox measures such
as throwing parties, staging
fashion shows and opening
late into the night (see
Museu Nacional de Arte
Antiga ).
Museu Nacional do
Azulejo
Lisbon’s tile museum is a
tourist favourite, for good
reason. It is housed in a
stunning convent and
church, covers tiles and
tile-making comprehensively, and has the bonus of a
pleasant café-restaurant (see Museu Nacional do Azulejo
).
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Museu Nacional dos Coches
A coach museum is the sort of place you might not
go to if you didn’t have a special interest in the subject.
In this case, that would be a mistake. This is one of
Lisbon’s most highly regarded and popular museums,
for its collection of 45 horse-drawn coaches and the
connections they create with the past.
➤ Praça Afonso de Albuquerque • Map B6 • 21 361 08
50 • 10am–5:30pm Tue–Sun • Adm charge •
www.museudoscoches-ipmuseus.pt
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Museums and Galleries