The Maritime Museum of Lisbon is also called the "Navy Museum" and although it is not as popular as some other museums, it is one of the most important of its kind in Europe. The museum was opened in 1863, by order of King Louis. The Portuguese occupied very important positions on the seas, and this museum keeps the memory of those great maritime days in the history of Portugal very nicely.
The museum proudly keeps a collection of over 17.000 items, of which 2.500 exhibits are part of the museum's permanent exhibition. For centuries, these exhibits range from maritime discoveries to the new age, with beautiful models of ships, sailboats and galleys.
Like everything in Lisbon, there is an exhibit dedicated to Vasco da Gama in this museum, and that is the figure of the archangel Raphael who accompanied and guarded this great adventurer on his journey to India. Two vessels, the so-called barges, attract a lot of attention, and it is an object that sails but its bottom is flat. These original barges were made in the 18th century. They belonged to Queen Mary I, and kings rode on them, such as William II and Queen Elizabeth II of England. Here is the royal cabin from the 19th century, which was located on a yacht from the same century, and belonged to Queen Amelia. In the museum, you can also see a seaplane called "Santa Cruz", which crossed the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean in 1922, so this exhibit is really a big attraction.
There are also maps from the 16th century, which show the whole world, which at that time was roughly known how it looks. So, according to these maps, we can find out how people imagined the globe in the 16th century. The noteworthy exhibit is a globe from 1645. Then, there is the "Far East Room" and in it ships from Asia and porcelain, as well as armor used in Japan in the XV century, and brought by Portuguese sailors from their voyages, as well as most of the exhibits which are not from Portuguese territory. So in this place, apart from the maritime culture, you can see all the other cultures of the world, which is a real treasure. In addition to ship models, portraits and maps, as well as ship aids, furniture can be seen here, or royal rooms with sailboats and ships, porcelain vases from China, India, etc.
This museum is a place where the whole world and the world of incredible discoveries are presented. Visiting this place is a great adventure and an interesting journey through history from which something new is always learned.
Ticket price for the Maritime Museum
Regular ticket price: 6.50 euros
Reduced ticket price 3.50 euros - pensioners and students
Family tickets for 4 members 14.60 euros
Working hours of the Maritime Museum
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The museum is closed on Mondays
Author of the text:
Maja Glavaš, Bachelor with Honours in Communicology. Works in Tourism.
Contact: [email protected]; instagram: travel_europe1
