So the country’s royal palaces stand today as museums decorated with some fantastic furnishings and pieces of art, and there are also a number of noble residences standing just as their owners left them. They give visitors a picture of upper-class life through the centuries, and the one that does it best in Lisbon is that of Ricardo Espirito Santo, a Portuguese philanthropist.
His former residence is found by the Portas do Sol Viewpoint in Alfama and is now called the Decorative Arts Museum. It dates from the 17th century and displays his stunning collection of furniture, tapestries, and ceramics in a period setting.
While you’ll be able to see very similar objects in other Portuguese palaces and throughout Europe, this palace is different in one aspect — it’s also a center of restoration of antiques. If you’re curious about seeing the decorative arts collection, be sure to also call ahead to schedule a visit to the workshops where you’ll be able to watch people practice traditional skills like woodcarving and bookbinding.
Back inside the house pay attention to the original 17th century wooden floors and painted ceilings. Also interesting is noting the tiny size of the four-poster beds in the bedrooms, indicating that the palace’s former residents many have been big on money but not on height.
As the autumn and winter months approach so do the colder and rainy days, meaning that if you happen to be in Lisbon under that kind of weather, you’ll be spending fewer hours outside. Visits to museums sounds much more appealing at that time, and after visiting the city’s major art collections, be sure to also consider seeing the Decorative Arts Museum. For more information about it click here.