National Museum of Ancient Art

National Museum of Ancient Art (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga), Lisbon, Portugal - Museum Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"So, what's this place all about? Treasures abound at the National Museum of Ancient Art, where paintings, sculptures, furniture, ceramics, textiles, gold, and silverware capture Portugal’s riveting history from the Middle Ages through the 19th century. Sounds fascinating. What's on the highlight reel? The expansive collection features numerous take-another-look gems like the gilded Belém Monstrance, brought back from India by Vasco da Gama; Hieronymus Bosch’s haunting triptych “Temptations of St. Anthony,” charting his turbulent path to salvation; and the bejeweled reliquary of Queen Leonor, originally intended to house the relic from Christ’s Crown of Thorns. Wow—we'll be sure to check it all out. Does the museum host exhibits, too? What kinds? Temporary exhibitions covering themes like forbidden art and Portuguese portraiture help focus the daunting collection. Spend time reveling in the building, a late-17th-century Lapa palace with baroque doorways. Got it. Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it? It's definitely worth a browse. Cool. What's the café like, if there is one? It's a low-key restaurant adorned with stone and a terrace overlooking the Tagus river. Might be worth a stop! Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? If you can make peace with the fact that you won’t see the museum in its entirety, forge ahead with a visit. Do leave time for the Panels of St. Vincent, a 15th-century sextet of paintings by Nuno Gonçalves; the 16th-century ivory salt cellar that survived its journey from the West Coast of Africa to Portugal; and Albrecht Dürer’s portrait of St. Jerome. The alfresco sculptures are also serene beauties." - Alia Akkam