Museu Nacional dos Coches

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Exhibition of the Museu Nacional dos Coches
Coche dos Oceanos
Facade of the old museum building
New museum building
Portuguese carriage

The Museu Nacional dos Coches (German: National Carriage Museum ) in the Lisbon district of Bélem , Portugal , is the most-visited museum in the city with 400,000 visitors per year . It has one of the finest collections of historic cars in the world.

The museum is now divided into two parts: its older (now smaller) part can be found in the former classicist riding hall of the Palácio Nacional de Belém . Across the street ( Praça Afonso de Albuquerque / Rua da Junqueira ) - with access from Avenida da Índia 136 - the greater part of the entire collection can now be viewed in a futuristic new building completed in 2015.

Old building

The former riding arena was built by the Italian architect Giacomo Azzolini around 1787 on the site of a former riding arena acquired by the royal family in 1726. The interior of the hall was decorated by the artist Francisco de Setubal with representations and azulejo mosaics of science, trade, peace and victory. The riding arena was 50 m long and 17 m wide and was used for horse training and performances. The original museum was established in this building in 1905 at the instigation of the last Portuguese queen, Amélie .

New building

Portugal's former Prime Minister José Sócrates laid the foundation stone for the new building in February 2010. The modern building is located on Avenida da India on the banks of the Tagus River and was designed by the Brazilian star architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha . In 2013 the museum was completed and presented to the public, but it could not be opened for the time being due to a lack of financial resources. It was originally intended to be made available to the public in 2014, but Portugal's economic crisis made this impossible. It has since opened in 2015.

collection

Both houses house an extensive collection of carriages of the Portuguese royal family and the Portuguese nobility. Among the numerous carriages from the 16th to 19th centuries are the traveling coach of Philip II of Spain or the King's carriage of John VI made in England . from Portugal, which he used to travel from Spain to Portugal around 1619. The collection also gives a comprehensive overview of the development of carriages with exhibits from Italy , Portugal , France , Spain, Austria and England.

There are also several pompous Baroque carriages from the 18th century that are painted and decorated with gilded carvings. One of the most impressive exhibits is a body that Pope Clement XI. Donated to the Portuguese King John V in 1715 , and the two carriages built in Rome in 1716, which the Portuguese ambassador gave to Pope Clement XI.

In addition to the carriages, the collection also presents paintings , sedan chairs , coachman's livery , bridles , saddles and other accessories in both houses .

Another part of the museum is located in the palace of the Duque de Bragança family in Vila Viçosa in the Alentejo .

See also

Web links

Commons : Museu Nacional dos Coches  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 38 ° 41 '52 "  N , 9 ° 11' 59"  W.