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Belém Palace and the Presidency Museum
Visitor's guide.
Belém Palace and a monument to the Portuguese viceroy of India
T he official residence of the President of Portugal was originally built in the 1500s, and bought by King João V a century later. It served as a royal palace for only a few decades, and its current appearance dates from a renovation in the late 1800s. It became the official home of the President of the Republic in 1911.
The waterfall in the palace's garden
The highlight of a visit is the garden with a waterfall that Queen Maria I had built in the late 1700s as the home of exotic birds. The interior of the palace includes a chapel that in 2002 added eight paintings by one of Portugal’s leading contemporary artists, Paula Rego , illustrating the life of the Virgin Mary.
Guards by the entrance to the palace and museum
Guards stand at the entrance which leads to the gardens and the building, while to the left is the Museum of the Presidency. The museum chronicles the history of the Portuguese Republic through the Presidents' official portraits and personal objects, many of them gifts from notable national and international personalities and heads of state .
Inside Belém Palace
In front of the palace is the Afonso de Albuquerque Garden, a tribute to the Portuguese viceroy of India. A statue of Albuquerque stands on a pedestal in the center of the garden.
The exhibition in the Presidency Museum
How to Get to Belém Palace and the Presidency Museum
Belém Palace is just a few feet from the Belém train station. The fastest way to get there is taking the train that departs from Cais do Sodré Station to Cascais every 20 minutes. It stops in Belém in just 7 minutes. Alternatively, you can hop on tram 15 or buses 714 and 727 (the tram and the buses are much slower and usually packed, so the train is the faster and more comfortable option). You may ride the train, the tram and the buses (as well as the city’s metro and funiculars) for free with the Lisboa Card .
Praça Afonso de Albuquerque, Belém
Admission and Tickets to Belém Palace and the Presidency Museum
A ticket to the palace and the museum is €5.00. For just the museum it’s €2.50. It’s not included in the Lisboa Card .
The museum is closed on Mondays. The palace only opens on Saturdays (guided tours at 10:30am, 11:30am, 2:30pm, 3:30pm and 4:30pm).
Attractions Nearby
Across the street is the Coaches Museum , and across the train tracks is the MAAT . The Jerónimos Monastery is a short walk away, and the Royal Palace of Ajuda is about a 15-minute walk up Calçada da Ajuda.
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Official Site For Information of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic
Belém National Palace Introduction
Introduction.
Updated: 08 of March of 2021
Belém Palace has been the Official Residence of the President of the Republic since the establishment of the Republic in 1910. With a history extending back five centuries, it was classified as a Building of Public Interest in 1967 and elevated to a National Monument in 2007.
In the middle of the 16th century, D. Manuel of Portugal, a figure of the Portuguese Renaissance, built the central core of the building on land leased from monks of the Order of St Jerome.
In 1726, the property was purchased by D. João V as a summer estate, and remained in the possession of the royal family until 1908. After the regicide, D. Manuel II offered Belém Palace to the State, under the tutelage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which used the Palace to welcome official foreign guests visiting Portugal, until the establishment of the Republic.
Used as a summer residence and periodically as a main residence, the Quinta de Belém survived the 1755 Earthquake unscathed, protecting D. José and the royal family who were staying there. In its aviaries, up to 500 exotic birds were recorded and in its cages, lions, tigers, leopards, panthers, bears, and wolves were housed, some with young offspring. In 1776, an elephant, horses, and thirteen zebras was reported to be in the stables.
In the room currently used by the President of the Republic to receive visitors, the last king of Portugal was born in 1889.
THE FIRST REPUBLIC
During the First Republic, almost all the presidents chose to reside in Belém Palace, in the building that today serves as the offices of the Civil and Military Houses, on payment of a monthly rent that was abolished in 1928.
MILITARY DICTATORSHIP AND THE NEW STATE
Under Óscar Carmona and Américo Tomás, Belém Palace was reserved for State ceremonies, receptions, and official meetings. Only Francisco Craveiro Lopes resided here, between 1952 and 1958. In order to be used as the private residence of the head of the State, the Arrábida wing was renovated. It is the oldest wing of the Palace and was thus nicknamed in memory of the Arrábida monks that D. Manuel of Portugal housed there.
António Ramalho Eanes was, to date, the last president to reside in Belém Palace. Today, the presence of the head of state is signalled by the flying of the presidential pavilhão (flag), hoisted on the main façade of the building.
The National Palace of Belém is open to visitors, by appointment only, through the Museum of the Presidency of the Republic.
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19 of May of 2024
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Palace of Belém
Pretend you’re on a state visit as you tour the Palace of Belém and discover the home of the President of the Portuguese Republic.
- Description
Feel like the President of the Portuguese Republic for a few hours and make the Palace of Belém your official residence in Lisbon.
In this former property of the count of Aveiras, bought by King João V in 1726, stands the official residence of the president of Portugal.
Nowadays it is the venue for official receptions in its rooms and halls decorated by artists such as Columbano, Malhoa, João Vaz and Leandro Braga.
The entrance hall – Sala dos Bichos – and the ballroom are the most impressive, with chequered marble flooring and painted and bas-relief ceilings.
The palace was the residence of Queen Maria II and, later, that of King Carlos.
Discover the troubled history of the occupants of the palace over the centuries as you walk down the steps in the impressive gardens overlooking the Tagus and through the rooms which have witnessed the pirouettes in Portugal’s recent history.
See also: Museum of the Presidency of the Republic
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- Belém Palace
The home of Portugal's Presidents
S ituated high up in gardens on a gently sloped hill, Belém Palace is the official residence of Portugal's president since 1910. It was built in 1559 and altered in the 18th century by King João V. In 1755, King José I was inside the palace, where the Great Earthquake was felt only to a slight extent and, just like most buildings in this area, it wasn't severely damaged. It still retains its richly furnished halls, carvings, tiles, and numerous works of art that may be visited on Saturdays. The Presidency Museum is part of the palace and can be visited every day (except Mondays). It tells the story of the Portuguese Republic and its Presidents, with a permanent collection explaining the history of the nationals symbols (flag and anthem) and the role of the presidents through photographs. In one gallery are portraits of every Portuguese president, and in another are the gifts each received from world leaders and other prominent figures. In front of the palace is a square with well-tended gardens and a statue of Afonso de Albuquerque, the Viceroy of India, standing atop a 20m-high Neo-Manueline pedestal in the center. Ride Lisbon's metro, buses, and trams for FREE with the Lisboa Card .
Visitor's Guide
Where : Praça Afonso de Albuquerque, Belém How : Tram 15 When : Palace - Saturdays only, 10AM-5PM; Museum - 10AM-6PM (Closed Mondays) What : museu.presidencia.pt
Attractions Nearby
Jeronimos Monastery - A World Heritage monument; Vasco da Gama's resting place. Belem Tower - The city's icon; a symbol of the Age of Discovery. Discoveries Monument - The world's explorers in stone. Berardo Museum - World-class collection of modern art. Coaches Museum - The world's largest collection of magnificent royal coaches. Maritime Museum - The story of Portugal's pioneering role in world exploration at the sea. Archaeology Museum - Archaeological finds from over the centuries. Belem Cultural Center - Modern cultural center with regular exhibitions and events. Tropical Garden - Beautiful garden with rare plants from around the world. Memoria Church - Elegant neoclassical church. Ajuda Palace - An extravagant royal palace. Ajuda Botanical Garden - Beautiful gardens overlooking the river. 25 de Abril Bridge - Golden Gate's twin sister. Docas - Attractive dock area with cosmopolitan bars and restaurants.
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