Royal Treasure Museum Opens in Lisbon

Lisbon’s new Royal Treasure Museum recently opened, adding another example of artistic and cultural wealth to the city’s many offerings. Housed in Palácio Nacional de Ajuda, Royal Treasure Museum boasts, for the first time ever, a permanent display, with more than 1,000 pieces, of the crown jewels and pieces of Portuguese royal goldsmithery.

© Turismo de Lisboa

The collection includes pieces like D. Mariana’s emerald bowl, the second-largest gold nugget in the world, and a tobacco box ordered by D. José from the King of France’s goldsmith in the 18^th century. The rare and valuable jewels, insignias, decorations, coins and pieces of civil and religious goldsmithery are housed in one of the largest vaults in the world at 40 meters long, 10 meters wide and 10 meters high. The vault, equipped with sophisticated security and video surveillance, measures three stories with 5-ton armored doors, temperature- and humidity-controlled vitrines and bulletproof glass.

© Turismo de Lisboa

The exhibition unfolds across 11 nuclei, bringing an in-depth approach to the display. In the first core, visitors find Brazil’s Gold and Diamonds, before viewing a selection of the coins and medals of the crown in the second nucleus. In part three, the jewels of the Palácio Nacional de Ajuda collection await. The fourth section, devoted to the Honorific Orders, leads into the fifth nucleus of Royal Insignias: Ritual Objects of the Monarchy. In six and seven, find objects of civil use in carved silver and the Private Collections of King Fernando II and his son, respectively. Continue through the museum to see Diplomatic Offerings, a ninth nucleus dedicated to the Royal Chapel, a section on Baixela Germain, and the Journeys through the Royal closing exhibit.

The museum is currently open daily, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Tickets range €7–10, with family tickets for two adults and two children at €32.