National Museum of Contemporary Art | Lisbon

In Lisbon’s Chiado district, the National Museum of Contemporary Art traces Portuguese art from 1850 to the present. It occupies the former Convent of São Francisco da Cidade, where steel-and-glass bridges sit beneath old brick vaults. Inside, look for works by Portuguese artists including Paula Rego, Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso and Columbano, alongside French sculpture such as Rodin’s. The permanent collection is joined by temporary exhibitions, so the displays can bring different periods and artists into view.

Portuguese art from 1850 onward

The museum’s collection follows the development of Portuguese art from the mid-19th century to the present. Painting, sculpture, photography, design and newer media are represented. Works by artists such as Paula Rego, Júlio Pomar, Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso and Almada Negreiros give the collection a distinctly Portuguese focus.

The displays include artists associated with the transition from Romanticism to Modernism, among them Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro and Almada Negreiros. Temporary exhibitions add changing perspectives, with presentations of Portuguese artists as well as international work. The museum is at Rua Serpa Pinto 4 in Chiado.

The former convent and its galleries

The National Museum of Contemporary Art is housed in the historic Convent of São Francisco da Cidade. Inside, steel-and-glass bridges cross beneath brick vaults, bringing contemporary design into the older structure. The building itself is part of the visit, alongside the artworks.

The galleries are not always straightforward to navigate, and some rooms are easy to overlook. Ask for directions when you arrive and check the back sections as you move through the museum. The collection also includes French sculpture, including works by Auguste Rodin.