Beautiful gardens and spectacular tilework

Fronteira Palace is located northwest of the city in the suburb of Benfica. Built in 1640, it is still one of the most beautiful residences in Lisbon, containing splendid rooms with 17th and 18th century decorative tiles, frescoed panels and oil paintings.

But it is most famous for its stunning formal gardens with even more tiles (some of the country's finest, depicting hunting, battles, and religious scenes), statuary (figures personifying the arts and mythological figures as well as busts of Portuguese kings), and fountains. It is still privately owned, and a guided tour conducts visitors around the rooms and gardens.

Along with the Tile Museum, this is the most important place to see great tilework -- the Room of Battles has been called "the Sistine Chapel of Tilework."

Where: Largo São Domingos de Benfica, Benfica/Uptown How: Taxi When: Guided tours every half hour between 10:30AM and 12PM Mon-Sat; book in advace at (+351) 21 778 2023

Sights also outside the city center

The Aqueduct and Mãe D'Água Water Museum - An indestructible feat of engineering
The City Museum - The story of Lisbon's long history.
Arpad Szenes - Vieira da Silva Museum - The gallery of two great 20th-century artists.