Page 68 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Lisbon

66  LISBON AREA B Y AREA

1 Palácio de Belém
Praça Afonso de Albuquerque.
Map 1 C4. Tel 213 614 600. @ 714,
727, 728, 729, 751. v 15. £ Belém.
Open 10:30am–4:30pm Sat. 8
(compulsory for groups: 213 414 660).
Museu da Presidência da República:
Open 10am–6pm Tue–Sun.
Closed Easter, 1 May, 25 Dec.
∑ museu.presidencia.pt

Built by the Conde de Aveiras
in 1559, before the Tagus had
receded, this palace once had Pink façade of the Palácio de Belém, official residence of the President of Portugal
gardens bordering the river. In
the 1700s it was bought by designed by award-winning ambassador to the Vatican,
João V, who made it suitably Brazilian architect Paulo Dom Rodrigo Almeida e
lavish for his amorous liaisons. Mendes da Rocha, offers full Menezes, Marquês de Abrantes,
When the 1755 earthquake accessibility and a range of are the epitome of pomp and
struck (see pp24–5), the king, visitor facilities, along with extravagance. Each weighing
José I, and his family were dedicated areas for education 5 tonnes, they are embellished
staying here and thus survived and vehicle conservation. with life-size gilded statues.
the devastation of central The original 1905 collection Further examples of royal
Lisbon. Fearing another tremor, had 29 vehicles, dress uniforms carriages include two-wheeled
the royal family temporarily set and cavalry accessories used cabriolets, landaus and pony-
up camp in tents in the palace by the Royal Family. After the drawn chaises used by young
grounds; the interior was used establishment of the Republic members of the royal family.
as a hospital. Today the elegant in 1910, the collection was There is also a 19th-century
pink building is the residence extended with other vehicles Lisbon cab, painted black
of the President of Portugal. belonging to the Crown, the and green, still the traditional
The Museu da Presidência Patriarchate of Lisbon and colours of the city’s taxis today.
da República, located within some aristocratic families. The 18th-century Eyeglass
the palace, uses multimedia Some of these vehicles Chaise, whose black leather
systems to illustrate Portugal’s remain in their old quarters, hood is pierced by sinister eye-
political history. where temporary exhibitions like windows, was made
are also mounted. The during the era of Pombal (see
2 Museu Nacional additional space afforded by p19) when lavish decoration
was discouraged. Also on
the new building has enabled
dos Coches more modern vehicles – well show are harnesses, court
into the automobile age – to costumes and the riding cloak
Avenida da Índia 136. Map 2 D4.
Tel 210 492 400. @ 714, 727, be added to the display. of the museum’s founder, King
728, 729, 751. v 15. £ Belém. However, for most visitors the Carlos’s wife Dona Amélia.
Open 10am–6pm Tue–Sun. Closed historic royal carriages
1 Jan, Easter, 1 May, 25 Dec. & still manage to steal the
(free first Sun of the month). 8 for show. Made in Portugal,
groups by appt. 7 - = Italy, France, Austria
∑ museudoscoches.pt and Spain, they range
from the plain to
This unique collection of the preposterous.
coaches and ceremonial One of the earliest is the
vehicles from the 17th to the comparatively simple
20th centuries is arguably the 17th-century leather
finest in Europe. First put on and wood coach of
show to the public in 1905, it Philip II of Spain.
was originally housed in the As time goes by, the
east wing of the Palácio de coaches become more
Belém, formerly the royal sumptuous, the interiors
riding school. In 2015 the lined with red velvet and
museum relocated to a new, gold, the exteriors carved
more spacious and purpose- and decorated with
built building on the east side allegories and royal coats
of the same square, Praça of arms. Three huge Rear view of a coach built in 1716 for the
Afonso de Albuquerque. The Baroque coaches made in Marquês de Abrantes, the Portuguese
striking new building, Rome for the Portuguese ambassador to Pope Clement XI

066-067_EW_Lisbon.indd 66 17/10/16 11:34 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm