The National Royal Coach Museum in Lisbon

The National Coach Museum (Museu Nacional dos Coches) in Lisbon is one of the most visited museums in Portugal. It is widely regarded as one of the finest collections of historic carriages in the world. Founded in 1905 by Queen Amélia, the museum originally occupied the former Royal Riding School of the Belém Palace. Its collection spans from the 17th to the 19th century and includes royal coaches, berlins, sedan chairs, and litters used by Portuguese monarchs, popes, and ambassadors. Among its most celebrated pieces are the three ornate Baroque coaches commissioned by King João V's ambassador to Rome in the early 18th century, richly decorated with gilded carvings, allegorical sculptures, and velvet interiors. In 2015, the museum expanded into a striking new building designed by Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha, located just across from the original Riding School in the Belém district. This contemporary structure, with its bold concrete-and-glass design, was built to accommodate the growing collection and provide modern exhibition facilities. Today, the two buildings offer visitors a fascinating journey through centuries of European craftsmanship and royal pageantry. The Belém location also makes the museum an easy complement to nearby landmarks such as the MAAT Museum and the Maritime Archeology Museum of Belém, making it a natural stop on a cultural tour of Lisbon.