Museu Nacional do Azulejo
Museum dedicated to the history of the azulejo in Portugal since the 15th century, housed in the former Convent of Madre de Deus, closed for works.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museu Nacional do Azulejo was created in 1965, became a national museum in 1980 and is housed in the former Convent of Madre de Deus, founded in 1509 by Queen D. Leonor. The museum presents the history of the azulejo in Portugal, a distinctive artistic expression of Portuguese culture around the world. In October 2023 it received the World Award in the Best Museum category at the Remarkable Venue Awards, run by the Tiqets platform.
The collection covers azulejo production from the second half of the 15th century to the present day, along with ceramics, porcelain and faience from the 16th to the 21st centuries. The permanent exhibition begins with a small section on materials and manufacturing techniques and then follows a chronological order. Among the “national treasures” are the panels Caça ao Leopardo (Leopard Hunt), the Grande Panorama de Lisboa (Great Panorama of Lisbon), attributed to Gabriel del Barco, which depicts the city before the 1755 earthquake, and the Retábulo de Nossa Senhora da Vida (Altarpiece of Nossa Senhora da Vida), dating from 1580.
The building retains the 16th-century Mannerist cloister, the church with azulejo paintings and cladding, the sacristy, the upper choir with rich gilded woodcarving and the Chapel of Santo António, with Baroque decoration and canvases by André Gonçalves. The museum is temporarily closed for works under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
Highlights
- Azulejos from the 15th century to the present day
- Great Panorama of Lisbon, attributed to Gabriel del Barco, dating from before the 1755 earthquake
- Altarpiece of Nossa Senhora da Vida (1580)
- Church and cloister of the Convent of Madre de Deus, with gilded woodcarving
- Chapel of Santo António, with canvases by André Gonçalves
- Best Museum award at the Remarkable Venue Awards 2023
- Founded
- 1960
- Operated by
- Museus e Monumentos de Portugal
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|
Price of the standard ticket before the closure for works.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
Before the closure: shop, restaurant and café. The museum shop currently operates in the Palácio Foz.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
Venue hire is arranged through Museus e Monumentos de Portugal.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The museum has an education service and a documentation centre. |
