sao roque museum
Tucked away inside the church of Sao Roque is the world's most expensive chapel. designed in Rome by famous names like Nicoli Salvi of the Trevi Fountain, it was constructed using the most expensive materials available, including ivory, jade, porphyry, lazuli, and gold, not to mention stunning stained glass mosaics from the Vatican workshops.
The Sao Roque is a Museum of Sacred Art that adjoins the church and is filled with treasures such as 16th-century Portuguese paintings, and ornate baroque silver, gold, and bronze works which include a pair of candle sticks, weighing over 800 pounds each. for a quiet respite from the city, take in a cafe or lunch in the museum’s cafeteria courtyard.
location:
Largo Trindade Coelho
Bairro Alto, Lisboa
Phone: 21 323 5065
schedule
Tues. to Wed, and Fri. to Sun, 10.00 to 18.00, Thu. 13.00 to 21.00. Last entry is half hour before closing time
(Closed Mondays)
entrance fees
Free entry fees and tour provided by museum when you reserve a tour with Lisbon Explorer.
reservations
Walk-in’s welcome, but advanced reservations are suggested.
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muda museum of modern design and fashion
This free museum occupies the old overseas national bank which has been gutted into 3,000 sq. meters of exhibition space with unfinished concrete walls. the permanent collection has over 170 pieces on display, circulating the 2,500 pieces in its collection which was bought from Portuguese businessman Francisco Capelo. See the most iconic works of design and pieces of fashion by famous names such as Charles & Ray Eames, Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, and Christian Dior.
location
Rua Augusta, 24
Baixa, Lisboa
Phone: 218 886 117
entrance fees
None
schedule
Tue. to Sun. 10.00 to 20.00 (on Saturdays until 22.00), (closed on Mondays)
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berardo collection
Rags to riches, José Manuel Rodrigues Berardo found his fortune in the vegetable markets of Johannesburg, South Africa. Eventually, his determination and business savvy expanded into interests all over the world, and he soon became an art collector and philanthropist. The Berardo Collection is an exercise in open-mindedness with a rich variety of quality works and temporary exhibitions that includes modern art by icons like Andy Warhol, alongside advertising art, and graffiti that encompasses many movements and techniques by artists from all over the world.
location
Praça do Império (across the street from the Jeronimos Monastery
Belem, Lisboa
Phone: +351 213 612 878
entrance fees
None
schedule
Sun. to Fri. 10.00 to 19.00, Sat. 10.00 to 22.00, (closed Mondays)
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phoenician and roman underground ruins
One of Lisbon’s best-kept secrets! In the early 1990s ruins were discovered under the Millennium Bank building in the downtown Baixa district. This fascinating free tour will take visitors 4 meters below street level for a rare peek at the city’s diverse inhabitants over the centuries. artifacts are present from the Iron Age, and Roman and Moorish periods, including shops, homes, tombs, skeletons, mosaics, and much more. This tour is operated by the Millennium Bank, please do not contact Lisbon Explorer requesting a reservation.
location
Rua dos Correeiros #9 or #21, (check with the Millennium Bank for the correct door number on the day of your tour.)
Phone: +351 211.131.004
entrance fees
None
schedule
English tours days vary, but usually run daily on the hour. Closed on Sundays and holidays.
Mon, Tue, Wed and Fri, from 10:00 to 17:00
Saturdays from 10:00 to 12:00 (closes for lunch from 13:00 to 15:00), tours resume 15:00 to 17:00
reservations
Requested, group sizes are limited. Phone in advance at: +351 211.131.004
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free s. carlos opera house tour
The She-man Opera House of Lisbon. Lisbon’s prized opera house built by King Jose I was Europe’s largest and most opulent. Eight months after it was completed, the great earthquake of 1755 destroyed the neoclassical building that was located behind the royal palace near Praca do Comercio.
It took almost 40 years before its predecessor was erected in record-breaking 6 months, with the construction financed by local businessmen. Opened on July 30, 1793, by Queen Maria I, the theater is inspired by the great Italian opera houses. the interior Rococo elements remind visitors of the San Carlo Opera House in Naples, with interior acoustics and a façade modeled after the famous La Scala in Milan.
The theatre was named after the Princess Charlotte of Spain, who had come to Portugal in 1790 to marry the future King, Prince John. In honor of her visit, the theater was given the masculine form of Princess Charlotte’s name, which is Charles, or Carlos in Portuguese. This was the result of an old custom that suggested any architecture expressing heaviness, strength, or power should be considered masculine. This tour is operated by the Sao Carlos Opera House, please do not contact Lisbon Explorer requesting a reservation.
location
Rua Serpa Pinto, 9
Chiado, Lisboa
Phone: +351 21 325 30 45
entrance fees
The Tour is free, but please offer tip to the guide to be polite. Tickets for opera performances can be purchased directly from the opera house box office, or online in English at: www.ticketline.pt
schedule
Open by appointment in advance.
reservations
Required, phone in advance at: +351 21 325 30 45
freebies
free tours
free museums
free sights
free sundays for savvy travelers in the know
Sundays are the best days to experiment with new museum exhibitions or to visit old favorites. On the 1st Sunday of each month, many of the national museums of Lisbon are open free of charge, and most of the popular private museums around Lisbon have adopted the same policy. To inquire about a specific free museum, you can speak with the Lisbon Tourism Office by calling: +351 210 312 899
