National Palace of Ajuda
A former royal palace and a national monument.
The National Palace of Ajuda, a former royal palace and a national monument, is a magnificent museum and the only palace that can be visited in Lisbon. It faithfully preserves its original 19th-century arrangement and decorations of the rooms, namely in the monarchs private quarters and throne hall. Strategically placed on the top of the hill of Ajuda, and enjoying an exceptional view over the River Tagus, the Palace houses important collections of 18th- and 19th- century decorative arts: gold and silverware, jewellery, textiles, furniture, glassware and ceramics, as well as collections of paintings, engravings, sculpture and photography.
A neo-classical building from the first half of the 19th century, the palace was the residence of the Portuguese royal family from the reign of King D. Luís I (1861-1889) to the end of the monarchy in 1910.Queen D. Maria Pia de Sabóia (1847-1911) brought life back to the palace in 1862. The original arrangement and decoration of the rooms, which have been preserved to this day, were attributed to the architect Joaquim Possidónio da Silva (1806-1896) and followed the most recent trends of comfort and hygiene typical of the second half of the 19th century. The royal princes D. Carlos (1863-1908) and D. Afonso (1865-1920) were born in the palace; the Council of State took place here and so did the court ceremonies, great balls and banquets. The palace was closed down in 1910 following the establishment of the Republic and the subsequent exile of the royal family. It reopened its doors as a museum in 1968 and still preserves the typically 19th-century room arrangement and decoration.
Source: DGPC (www.patrimoniocultural.pt)