Lisbon Maritime Museum (Museu de Marinha)
Lisbon Maritime Museum is a unique museum dedicated to the sea, ships and Portuguese geographical discoveries. It occupies a part in the west wing of the Jerónimos Monastery (together with the National Museum of Archaeology), as well as a modern structure north of the monastery. The Maritime Museum has more than 17,000 exhibits, including exact replicas of ships and vessels from caravels to cruisers, ship elements, uniforms of Portuguese sailors and officers, life-size royal boats, and paintings on maritime themes.
General Information
For many people it is strange to have a museum within the walls of a monastery, but according to local legend, Portugal’s chief maritime explorer, Vasco da Gama, prayed here before sailing towards India. The Lisbon Maritime Museum was founded in 1863 by King Luis, he had a personal interest in the country’s maritime history and was keen to preserve his heritage. Unfortunately, the original collection, which consisted of many historic ship models from the 16th and 17th centuries, has not survived to this day.
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In 1916 there was a fire, due to which all the exhibits were destroyed. The museum was reborn only in 1948, thanks to Enrique de Seixas. In his posthumous will, he ordered that his impressive collection be given to the museum.
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Nowadays, visiting the Lisbon Maritime Museum you can see a large collection, which is largely dedicated to the Age of Discovery. The time when Portuguese ships sailed the oceans and seas, discovering new lands. It consists of scale models of various ships, weapons, globes, naval paintings, navigators’ uniforms and many other tools and elements.
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The largest scale model of the exhibition is considered to be the flagship San Gabriel of the famous Vasco da Gama, on which he made the first successful voyage to discover the way to India, having circumnavigated Africa. And the most ancient is the statuette of Archangel Raphael, which was present in this expedition.
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Also worth noting attention, ceremonial barges, one of which was built for Queen Mary I. The barge was manned by eighty oarsmen, decorated with relief sculptures and gilded ornamentation. It carried noble passengers for a long time.
.Attracting visitors is the royal cabin, taken from Queen Amelia’s yacht, in which the royal quarters are fully recreated. A room with a porcelain ship and an antique globe made by renowned craftsman William Janz Blount are also noteworthy.
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The Lisbon Maritime Museum also includes a legendary ship, the sailing frigate Fragata D. Fragata D. Fernando II e Gloria. The ship is moored on the Tagus River and is also open for tourists to visit.
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Useful information
Address: Lisboa, Praca do Imperio.
.Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 – 17:00, Monday: day off.
.Entrance: 5 EUR, children under 18 and those over 65 years of age get a 50% discount.
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On the day of the celebration of the Portuguese Navy, which is celebrated every year on May 20, admission to the museum is free for everyone.
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To get to the Lisbon Maritime Museum, you can take buses 727, 729 and 751. The desired stop is Centro Cultural De Belem.
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