Museu de Artes Decorativas

Set inside the 17th-century Palácio Azurara in Lisbon, the Museu de Artes Decorativas displays furniture, paintings, textiles, silver and ceramics from a major private collection. The rooms preserve the feel of a furnished mansion, with objects arranged throughout its four floors. An accompanied visit gives you the chance to ask staff about the collection and the building. Look out for the workshop demonstrating traditional woodworking, and go if you have a particular interest in antique furniture from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The collection in Palácio Azurara

The museum occupies Palácio Azurara, a 17th-century mansion in Lisbon. Its collection was assembled by Portuguese banker Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva and includes furniture, paintings, textiles, silver and ceramics. In 1953, shortly before his death, he gave the collection to the Portuguese nation.

Objects are arranged throughout the palace as if its rooms were still in use. The interior spans four floors, with decorative arts from Portugal, France and England, particularly from the 17th and 18th centuries. The furnished setting connects the objects to the rooms they were made to inhabit.

Woodworking and accompanied visits

Visits are accompanied, helping protect the delicate objects on display. Staff can introduce the collection and its history, and answer questions as you move through the rooms. A workshop demonstrates traditional woodworking techniques, offering a closer look at the skills behind the furniture.

There is no clear storyline linking every room, so visitors who prefer a chronological or tightly structured exhibition may find the layout less straightforward. Asking staff about particular pieces can help you focus your visit.