Museu Nacional Coches

The Museu Nacional dos Coches (National Coach Museum) houses an exceptional collection of ceremonial coaches and other ornate horse draw vehicles. The collection includes state carriages from across Europe between the 16th and 19th century.

Among its rarest items is a late 16th/early 17th-century traveling coach used by King Philip II of Portugal as he left Spain and return to an independent Portugal in 1619.Another standout exhibit is the ceremonial Coach of the Oceans a carriage belonging to Pope Clement XI which was given King John V in 1715 which is lavishly decorated in gold.

The coach collection was created by Queen Amélia in 1905 and was housed in the royal riding arena. The arena was 50m long and 17m wide, and was used for training horses, for horse riding exhibitions and games. The arena used to have balconies so that the Portuguese royal family could watch the events from luxurious surroundings.

The royal riding arena was added as an extension to Belem Palace which was later converted into the Museu Nacional dos Coches under the Queen Amélia requests. The queen included all of the carriages belonging to the Portuguese royal family in the museum’s collection. After the demise of the royal family the Portuguese government maintained the museum.

The Museu Nacional dos Coches museum is located within the Belem district of Lisbon and can be reached by tram from the Baixa district of Lisbon. The museum is open 10am-6pm Tuesday to Sunday and the adult entrance fee is €5, but for those on a tight budget the Museu Nacional dos Coches is free between 10am-2pm on Sunday.