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Explore Portuguese heritage in the Popular Art Museum in Lisbon
I love handicrafts and had a great time at the Popular Art Museum in Belém. It is one of the smaller museums in Lisbon, and you won’t find large crowds here. Therefore, it’s a unique hidden gem, and the building alone is worth visiting.
The Museum of Popular Art Lisbon displays local folk art, and there are often temporary exhibitions. When I visited Museu de Arte Popular, there was a basket weaving exhibition on display, and it was interesting to learn about handwork in the different Portuguese regions.
Overview of the Popular Art Museum in Lisbon
The history of Museu de Arte Popular in Lisbon
The Popular Art Museum, or Museu de Arte Popular in Belém, is well worth a visit if you’d like to learn more about Portugal’s ethnology and history. The Folk Art Museum opened in 1948 and is located in a former pavilion.
Architects António Reis and João Simões designed the building in 1940 as part of the Exhibition of the Portuguese World. In the years to come, it was adapted as a museum.
Modernist elements and beautiful murals were added to the walls, which are characterised by painters such as Carlos Botelho, Estrela Faria, Manual Lapa, Eduardo Anahory, and Paulo Ferreira.
Since 2012, the building on the shores of the Tagus River has been a monument. And when you visit Belém, it’s well worth looking inside if you’re interested in folk art.
The Popular Art Museum is closely linked to the National Museum of Ethnology (Museu Nacional de Etnologia), where you can find permanent collections of beautiful objects. The collection comprises ceramics, musical instruments, textiles, jewellery, costumes, and more. In the summer of 2022, the museum housed a basketry collection.
How to get to the Popular Art Museum in Lisbon
The Popular Art Museum is located in Belém, and bus lines 714, 727, 728, 751, and 729 all stop close to Museu de Arte Popular. If you come by train from Cais de Sodré, you can exit the train at Belém Station. Tram 15 also takes you to Belém, and it’s only a short walk to the museum. For more information about Lisbon’s public transport, click here.
Opening hours of the Museum of Popular Art Lisbon
Museu de Arte Popular is open every Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM. It is also closed during lunch on Saturdays and Sundays between 1 PM and 2 PM and on Mondays, Tuesdays, and national holidays.
Lisbon Popular Art Museum Tickets
The Museu de Arte Popular’s admission price is € 5,00, and children under 12 can visit the exhibitions for free. Students and seniors pay € 2,50 per person. The museum website has current exhibition information.
Other things to do in Belém
When you’re on holiday in Lisbon, a day trip to Belém is absolutely recommended. The Lisbon district is located in the western part of the city, directly on the River Tagus. You will need at least half a day to see the highlights, but a full day is even better to explore hidden gems.
Belém is famous for its Pasteis de Belém, and you can try the original pastel de nata in the cafe. Remember to visit the Jerónimos Monastery, where these fantastic pastries were first made!
The Lisboa Card includes entrance to the monastery and the Belém Tower. You can also see many museums and other sights in this Lisbon district.
Not far from Torre de Belém are the monument Padrão dos Descobrimentos and the Bom Sucesso Fortress. If you’d like to visit other museums, MAAT, Museu de Marinha, and the National Coach Museum are recommended. At the end of the day, you can take a beautiful sunset cruise on the River Tagus.
Belém is a beautiful district with many excellent restaurants to discover. Why not stay overnight and discover the beautiful shores of the Tagus? Trips to Cascais and Lisbon’s city centre are easy to undertake, and there is a wide variety of hotels and B&Bs in Belém. Check out the full guide of the best sights in Belém to learn more.
FAQ
Is the Popular Art Museum in Lisbon worth visiting?
If you are interested in folk art, you should definitely visit Museu de Arte Popular in Lisbon. The museum is relatively small and has interesting temporary exhibitions.
What can I see in the Lisbon Popular Art Museum?
Museu de Arte Popular has many temporary exhibitions linked to folk art. These could include basket weaving, cork, textiles, and other natural materials. If you are interested in ethnology, visiting the museum is highly recommended.
Conclusion
I walked past Museu de Arte Popular on a hot summer day and decided to have a look inside. I was pleasantly surprised, as I love handwork and natural materials. The exhibitions take around one hour to see, and as they change regularly, it’s an interesting place to visit from time to time.
Discover other incredible museums!
- MAAT Lisbon – Discover the city’s favourite art museum in Belém
- Explore Portuguese heritage in the Popular Art Museum in Lisbon
- Visiting the National Tile Museum and Madre de Deus in Lisbon
- Lisbon’s fabulous Fado Museum in the heart of Alfama
- The National Coach Museum and the Old Royal Riding School in Belém
- Enjoy mesmerising historical art at the Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon
- Join the Lisbon Art Gallery Tour To Spark Your Imagination
- Quake Museum Lisbon: A shaky but groundbreaking and fantastic experience!
- Discover the ruins of the Carmo Convent in Lisbon
- Beautiful contemporary art at the Serralves Museum in Porto
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