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Museu Medeiros de Almeida

www.ourportugaljourney.com

Museu Medeiros de Almeida

A hidden gem in Lisbon worth a visit

Carol A. Wilcox
Jan 13, 2022
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Museu Medeiros de Almeida

www.ourportugaljourney.com
Entrance to Museum
New Wing and Entrance to the Museum - Photo by Paul Wilcox

In November 2021, we joined a group called Lisbon Social & Cultural Club. The group consists of retired or semi-retired expats mostly from the UK and the US. Members of the group occasionally meet somewhere in the greater Lisbon area for social, cultural and food events. One such event was a visit to a hidden gem and amazing museum, the Medeiros de Almeida House-Museum. This museum is not as well-known as many of the museum tourist attractions, but admission is inexpensive, it’s less crowded, and well worth the time to visit.

Museum Chapel
Private Family Chapel in the Old Wing - Photo by Paul Wilcox

Just a couple of blocks off central Lisbon’s trendy boulevard Avenida da Liberdade, this museum is the former residence of successful businessman, Antonio Medeiros e Almeida. Medeiros e Almeida made his fortune in commercial aviation, English motor imports and the sugar industry in the Azores.

Brass French Piano
Brass Piano from France - Photo by Paul Wilcox

This 25-room late 1800’s mansion houses an eclectic collection of works of art collected over the years by Medeiros e Almeida and his wife, Margarida Pinto Basto.

Dining Room in the Old Wing
Dining Room in the Old Wing - Photo by Paul Wilcox
Qing Dynasty Tureen and Plate
Tureen and plate from the Chinese Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) Photo by Paul Wilcox

There are over 2,000 pieces on permanent display. The house-museum is divided into two main parts: the Old Wing that was the former living space of the Medeiros e Almeida’s and the New Wing built over the garden. The rooms in the Old Wing look much as they did when the owners occupied the rooms including the private family chapel and a self-portrait of Rembrandt. The New Wing has several display rooms including The Lake Room with baroque tile walls with a marble and bronze fountain in the center that originates from the gardens of the Palace of Versailles. Also on display is a tureen and plate from the Qing dynasty and a Portuguese silver coffee and tea service used by Napoleon Bonaparte while in exile. Medeiros e Almeida was also an extraordinary collector of clocks and timepieces.

Part of the Timepieces display - Photo by Paul Wilcox

The house-museum has a media room where visitors can sit and watch a video about the fascinating life of Antonio Medeiros e Almeida. There’s also a small gift shop, restrooms, and a cafeteria (closed during our visit due to construction). There are both free and paid guided tours. You can also roam the museum on your own. Allow at least 2 hours. Photographs are allowed. Admission is $5.00 EU and free on the last Saturday of the month.

Italian Sculpture
Italian Sculpture, Veritas by Raffaelle Monti, 1853 - Photo by Paul Wilcox

Details:

Medeiros e Almeida House-Museum

Rua Rosa Araujo, 41

Lisbon 1250-194

Phone: +351 213 547 892

Hours: 1:00 – 5:30 pm Monday-Friday

10:00 am – 5:30 pm Saturday

Closed Sundays

Website: https://www.casa-museumedeirosealmeida.pt/casa-museu/

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Museu Medeiros de Almeida

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2 Comments
Susan
Jan 15, 2022

What a beautiful museum! How nice to have found this group of expats to enjoy things with.

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