Palácio Nacional da Ajuda Day Trips & Walks

Royal Palace

Largo da Ajuda
Lisbon,
1349-021
Portugal
Phone No. +351 21 363 7095
Fax No. +351 21 364 8223
Visit Websitehttp://www.ippar.pt/monumentos..
E mailpnajuda@ippar.pt

Overview

The Palácio da Ajuda was built on the site of the 'Royal Cabin', the temporary living quarters of the Portuguese royal family for a time after the enormous 1755 earthquake that largely destroyed the city. In 1795, Manuel Caetano de Sousa began work on the palace. He introduced the neo-Classical aesthetic and incorporated the new ideas of architects Francisco Xavier Fabri and José da Costa e Silva. Despite the magnificence of the plans and security of the financing, the palace's construction was interrupted on many occasions, until D. Luis Maria Pia de Sabóia contracted Joaquim Possidonio Narciso da Silva as a design specialist, who gave the palace new exotic spaces and many of its other aspects of functional character. The palace was transformed into a museum in 1968, and it also serves as the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture.

Open Hours

Mo to Tu from 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM, Th to Su from 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM