Review: National Palace of Ajuda (Portugal, Lisbon) - Not an advertised place. Sights of Lisbon: Palácio Nacional da Ajuda – State Palace in Ajuda Rossio Square and Station
Lisbon is a fairly large capital of an ancient European state, which was once the center of a huge colonial power. Naturally, such a city has a lot of attractions. Some of them are located quite compactly; My articles about districts and . Others were scattered across many Lisbon places; in this article I will talk about a few that stood out to me the most.
Royal Palace of Ajuda
The catastrophic earthquake of November 1, 1755 destroyed a large part of Lisbon, including the Royal Palace of Ribeira, located on the site of the current Market Square. The royal family survived due to the fact that on that day they were in the Belem region, which was not too damaged by the earthquake and the tsunami it caused. However, King José I began to suffer from claustrophobia and settled in a wooden hut (covered with tapestries from the Baixo estate) near the palace of the Counts of Obidos. He ordered the construction of a wooden building in the Ajuda area. On September 20, 1861, the Real Barraca (Royal Tent/Tower), or Paço de Madeira (Wooden Palace), was completed. After the death of José I, his daughter Maria I left Ajuda and settled in. In 1794, the Royal Tent burned down, and the following year construction began on a new palace in the late Baroque style. The deplorable state of the treasury forced the authorities to reconsider the original project towards its reduction. By 1802, the palace was completed in the classicist style. The kings changed their residences several more times, until in 1862 Ajuda became the main place of residence of the Royal family, which was used primarily in the winter season (it served as a summer residence). At the same time, the interiors of the palace were updated in the spirit of eclecticism.
I can’t say that Ajuda Palace is a place I really liked. Frankly speaking, if I had not visited it (as part of a group excursion that was part of the tour), I would not have considered that I had lost much. I hardly saw anything outstanding, original or attractive in this palace.
Eastern façade of Ajuda:
At the entrance I remember the majestic stone female figures symbolizing various virtues. I like such figures (apparently, the Maximilian complex from Heine’s “Florentine Nights”) - a feeling familiar from the time of visiting. This figure represents gratitude: 
It is interesting that the opposite (western) side is a dilapidated unfinished building of an absolutely terrible appearance. It was just wild to see him.
I will show you a few interiors that made a pleasant impression.
The blue interior isn't really blue now; This is the reception room. Portraits of King Luis I and his wife Maria Pia of Savoy, who settled in Ajuda in 1862, are visible: 
The Winter Garden, otherwise called the Marble Hall, is beautiful: 
I like porcelain collections (Portugal, by the way, had its own porcelain production, but is now almost lost): 
The Chinese motifs seemed especially pleasant. Many porcelain items were donated by the Manchu-Chinese Emperors of the Qing Dynasty. 
I remember the small private dining room of the Royal Family. By the way, they ate quite little, if not at times meagerly. In the second half of the 19th century, the Portuguese Royal Family was at times so poor that its members had to sell their jewelry. 
There is, of course, a large Dining Hall: 
In the main Throne Room on the second floor, the thrones of Luís I and Maria Pia, of course, attract attention: 
To some extent, my reserved attitude towards the Ajuda Palace was formed by the fact that the Royal Regalia stored here is not open to public inspection. This was my first time encountering this, and this ban upset me. I wanted to look with my own eyes at the crown of John VI, made in 1817 for him as the ruler of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarve. It is interesting, by the way, that since 1646, when King John IV dedicated the crown of Portugal to the Virgin Mary, the rulers of this country have never worn their Royal crowns.
All I could do was look at the different images of the crown of Portugal. For example, on these stained glass windows: 
On the right is the coat of arms of Portugal, and on the left is that of Saxony. Since 1853, Portugal has been ruled by the Cobrug-Braganza branch (starting with Pedro V), which was created through the marriage of Queen Mary II of Braganza and Fernando II of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
I also remember the tower with a cockerel on top that has been preserved from the Wooden Palace complex (the cockerel is one of the symbols of Portugal, and differs in appearance from the more famous Gallic rooster) and the Ajuda garden. But, unfortunately, there was no time to carefully examine them. 
Commerce Square
The Market Square (Praça do Comércio), also known as the Palace Square, is located on the site of the Ribeira Palace. After the earthquake, the square was completely reconstructed.
King Jose I entrusted the restoration of the city to his Prime Minister, Marquis Sebastian Pombal, who rebuilt the square in the spirit of the Enlightenment. The royal palace was not restored, and the square itself received the correct symmetrical shape. 
The square was named Trade Square, which determined its new functions in the economy of Lisbon. The main attraction was the statue of José I in the center of the square, inaugurated in 1775. 
It is curious that on one side of the pedestal there is a figure of a baby elephant (judging by its size), which seems to be trampling on a certain person; I don’t know what is the reason for such a scene. 
Among the British, Commerce Square received the unofficial name Black Horse Square. For some reason, the dark color of Jose I's horse, trampling snakes, attracted their attention. This still causes confusion among local residents.
On February 1, 1908, the Trade Square became the site of the Portuguese regicide. When the carriage containing King Carlos I and his family entered the square, shots were heard from the crowd. The king died on the spot, his heir Luis Filipe was mortally wounded, and Prince Manuel, the future King Manuel II, was wounded in the arm. He was saved by his mother, Queen Amelia. The killers were shot dead on the spot by security guards and were later identified as members of the Republican Party, which overthrew the Portuguese Monarchy two years later. 
Another highlight of the Commerce Square is the Arc de Triomphe de Augusta, behind which lies the shopping street Rua Augusta. The arch is decorated with the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Portugal and the inscription in Latin: VIRTUTIBUS MAIORUM UT SIT OMNIBUS DOCUMENTO. P.P.D. 
This inscription means approximately “The virtues of the great [ancestors] who taught us everything.” The standard formulation of P.P.D. stands for Pecuinia Posuit Dedicavit, meaning “paid for with public funds.”
Of course, the embankment of the Tagus River, a favorite place for celebrations of Lisbon residents and guests of the city, gives a special charm to the Commerce Square. There is a water bus station here, through which you can get, among other things, to the opposite bank - for example, to the Lisbon suburb of Casillas, where it is located. 
Rossio Square and Station
Rossio Square (Praça Rossio), located in the center of Lisbon on the north side of the historical Baixa district (the word means "Lower"), has the official name - Pedro IV Square, in honor of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil, who was also King Pedro IV of Portugal. His monument is erected in the center of the square. Behind it is the National Theater Maria II. 
Rossio became one of the main squares of Lisbon already in the 13th–14th centuries. In the 16th century, the headquarters of the Portuguese Inquisition were located here (in the Estaush Palace, on which the theater now stands); The first auto-da-fé took place in 1540. Fortunately, nothing else reminds us of that odious era.
In the second half of the 19th century, the square was decorated with traditional Portuguese mosaics on the pavement. This mosaic is one of the symbols of Portugal. Some people may feel dizzy when looking at it for a long time.
In the center of the square there are two bronze fountains brought from France. 
Between 1886 and 1887, a railway station of the same name was built in the northwestern part of Rossio Square. The station became an important addition to the city's infrastructure, and its beautiful neo-Manueline facade became one of Lisbon's landmarks. 
Currently, only local trains depart from the station towards Sintra.
Camões Square
A must-see for me during my visit to Lisbon was visiting Camões Square (Praça Luís de Camões). It is named after the great poet Luis de Camões (Luis Camões in Portuguese), who lived in the 16th century (circa 1524 - 1580). 
In the epic “The Lusiads,” the poet outlined all the heroic events of Portuguese history from the settlement of the country by the mythical Luz - the ancestor of the Lusiad Portuguese - to the opening of the route to India around Africa by Vasco da Gama in 1498. The work of Camões is given special importance in Portugal; in fact, he is considered the father of the Portuguese language. The day of the death of Luis Camões (10 June) is celebrated by the Portuguese community (Lusophones) as Portugal Day. The largest literary prize in Portuguese-speaking countries is named after Camões. By the way, Camões’s great contemporary, the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, called the Portuguese language sweet, and I agree with him in this assessment.
I will quote a stanza from the Lusiads:
Weapons and brave knights,
That, cutting through the waves of the ocean,
Having rejected life's vain temptations
The color of a nation, great and fearless,
That among unknown and strange people,
Founded a mighty power
And thus she gained immortality.
In Jules Verne's novel The Children of Captain Grant, Paganel mistakenly learned Spanish from The Lusiads. Although their grammar is undoubtedly related, these languages differ quite noticeably, especially due to the specific letter ã in Portuguese, as well as due to the positional reduction of sounds (and, accordingly, letters) characteristic of this language.
Basilica and Estrela Park
There are many religious buildings in Lisbon; in this article I will show one - Basilica da Estrela. 
The basilica was built in the area of Estrela ("star" in Portuguese) by order of Queen Mary I in fulfillment of a vow after the birth of her son José, Prince of Brazil. Construction took place in 1779–1790; Moreover, it opened two years after Jose’s sudden death from smallpox at the age of 27. This death was one of the reasons for Mary’s gradual insanity (in Brazil they even gave her the nickname Mad, although in Portugal they call her Pious). 
The Basilica is located on a hill, thanks to which its gigantic dome can be seen from various areas of Lisbon. The architecture of the basilica is made in the late Baroque style with elements of classicism. Gray, pink and yellow types of marble were used for its construction. The basilica also houses the tomb of Queen Mary I.
Near the basilica there is a small, very cozy park. 
Here, as in Portugal in general (especially the southern part), many tropical plants grow. It is interesting that in Portugal 80% of plant species are imported from other parts of the world. 
The presence of such spreading trees is very important for the hot and sunny climate of Lisbon. 
Oddly enough, there is a sculpture of a stonemason in the park; Despite the surprise, I thought she was cute: 
Edward VII Park
From Estrela Park I will move to Eduardo VII Park, which is located in the center of Lisbon. Until 1903, this park was called Liberty, but was renamed a year after the visit of the English King Edward VII to Portugal, who came to confirm the centuries-old union between Portugal and England (it was established in 1386 in England). 
I don’t really like such geometrically correct forms of plant ensembles. And I wouldn’t mention this park if it weren’t for one remarkable detail. In the eastern part of the park there is a pavilion named after the 1984 Olympic champion runner Carlos Lopes. 
And it’s not the pavilion (which, by the way, is in a rather dilapidated state), but the four paintings from Portuguese Azulejo ceramics that decorate it. There are a great many Azulejos in Portugal. And I love epic paintings most of all, so these four images stood out to me especially strongly.
The Battle of Ourique was a battle fought on July 25, 1139, between the Portuguese army under Prince Afonso I and the Almoravids under Ali ibn Yusuf. After the victory, Afonso I's soldiers immediately proclaimed him King of the Portuguese. Portugal actually ceased to be a feudal inheritance of Castile, having gained independence.
Ala dos Namorados ("Flank of the Suitors/Grooms") is a painting commemorating the Battle of Aljubarrota. This battle between the troops of Juan I of Castile and John I of Portugal, which took place on August 14, 1385, ended in victory for the Portuguese, consolidating the independence of this country (although it later lost it in 1580–1640 due to dynastic circumstances that transferred Portugal to the Spanish King Philip II and to his successors - two more Philippi with subsequent numbers). The “flank of suitors/suitors” was the name given to a couple of hundred young unmarried nobles who particularly distinguished themselves in this battle. The right flank of the Ala de Madressilva (“Honeysuckle Flank”), consisting of a couple of hundred strong warriors, did not show such heroism. A magnificent one is dedicated to the Battle of Aljubarrot.
Sagres is a town and district in the province of Algarve. The city is famous for the famous navigation school, which was founded by Prince Henry the Navigator in the 15th century. The picture, as I understand it, shows the riot of sea spirits that the students of this school had to tame. Which is what happened.
Cruzeiro do Sul (Journey to the South) is the most important route of Portuguese sailors along the western coast of Africa, in search of a route to India.
I also note that on the outskirts of Edward VII Park there is a museum of the most famous modern Portuguese: 
Monument to the Marquis of Pombal
Not far from the Edward VII Park is the round square of the Marquis of Pombal (Praça do Marquês de Pombal), in the center of which stands a monument to the title figure. 
Sebastian José Pombal (1699–1782) was the most influential Portuguese politician of the Enlightenment, one of the most prominent representatives of “enlightened absolutism.” In fact, he held the reins of power in Portugal under King José I (from 1750 to 1777) and led the restoration of the country after the devastating Lisbon earthquake. The contribution of the Marquis de Pombal to the development of the Portuguese language was very significant, since in 1758 he made it the only official language of Brazil, prohibiting the use of the previously existing creolized pidgin Lingua Geral Nyengatu.
Under Queen Mary II, the Marquis was accused of abuses, removed from office and sent into exile. But modern Portugal honors the great figure.
The pedestal of the monument also depicts people and animals who participated in the construction of the destroyed country and Lisbon. 
The half-naked female figure is the personification of Lisbon. This is Lisboa; The Portuguese call their capital in the feminine gender.
Bridge 25 April
I’ll finish the review with a look at the 25 April Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril), which straddles the Tagus River estuary and connects Lisbon and the Setúbal Peninsula. [In parentheses, I note that the grandiose Vasco da Gama Bridge passes near Lisbon - the longest bridge in Europe (including viaducts), its length is 17.2 km; Moreover, this bridge is not straight. I drove along it, but couldn't take a picture].
The 25 April Bridge was opened on August 6, 1966. Until 1974, the Ponte Salazar bridge was named after António Salazar (Portuguese Prime Minister and de facto dictator for 36 years), but was renamed after the so-called Carnation Revolution. The photo was taken from the edge of a hill on the Setúbal Peninsula, where the statue of Christ the King, replicating the original in Rio de Janeiro, is located. 
The bridge was built by the American Bridge Construction Company with the help of 11 local firms. The length of the bridge is about 2.28 km. Due to its similar design and color, the April 25 Bridge has been compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, although it is actually "related" to the Bay Bridge between San Francisco and Oakland.
Mafra Palace is the largest royal palace in Portugal, its construction took place from 1717 to 1730 under the supervision of the Italians, Portuguese and Germans. The Marfa Palace included a church, a palace and a monastery, and a lot of city funds were spent on the construction of the buildings.
Today the town of Mafra seems like a cluster of toy houses compared to the palace: the height of the three-story town house does not reach the eaves of the second floor of the palace. It has the world's largest collection of bells, which can be heard within a radius of 24 kilometers.
About 330 monks lived in the Mafra Palace, while simultaneously making changes and modernizations to the palace ensemble complex. Between approximately 1771 and 1791, the Hermit Monks of the Order of St. Augustine lived in this monastery.
Over time, the unique building gradually turned into a summer residence, and in the middle of the 19th century its rear part was allocated for the needs of the armed forces. Now the palace complex has been declared a national monument, and at the end of the 20th century significant restoration work was carried out here.
Mafra Palace is famous for its many magnificent sculptures, paintings and Italian statues. The famous palace library deserves special attention, as it amazes with its significantly large collection of ancient books. Some tomes, which have a long history, are written on golden pages.
National Palace of Ajuda
One of the most beautiful palaces in Lisbon is the National Palace of Ajuda. This is a neoclassical building from the first half of the 19th century, which, however, was too grandiose for its time and could not be completed immediately.
Since 1862, the unfinished palace received a new life. Under the direction of the architect Joaquim Possidonio Narciso da Silva. Major transformations began aimed at improving comfort and updating the interior decoration of the palace, according to the ideas of the bourgeoisie of the 19th century.
In its heyday, the Royal Palace of Ajuda was the official residence of the Portuguese monarchy; ceremonies were held here, and grand balls and banquets were held. After the proclamation of the Republic in 1910 and the removal of the monarchy, the palace was closed and reopened to the public as a museum only after 1968.
Now 34 museum halls of the Ajuda Palace reproduce with historical accuracy the environment in which the Portuguese monarchs lived. Magnificent collections of furniture, porcelain, crystal, priceless tapestries, chandeliers, jewelry, various decorative and functional items made using advanced technologies of their time (XV-XIX centuries) - all this can be seen and photographed.
Palace of Queluz
The Queluz Palace is a magnificent architectural monument worthy of sincere admiration. Built by King Pedro III as a gift to his wife, Queen Maria I, the Queluz Palace impresses with its luxurious forms. Construction of the palace lasted several years - from 1742 to 1767, and a lush garden with fountains and statues was laid out around it. The construction of a new palace for King Pedro III and his bride Maria I was led by the court architect Mateus Vicente de Oliveira, who created an amazingly beautiful creation, which is considered to be perhaps the last striking example of the Rococo style.
The Queluz Palace makes a great impression on visitors. Now everyone can admire the exquisite Throne Hall, where magnificent balls and ceremonial banquets were held several centuries ago. Huge mirrors, beautiful crystal chandeliers and gold-plated sculptures add special splendor. This is followed by the music hall, where operas and concerts were performed by the royal orchestra. The ceiling of the royal bedroom is made in the shape of a dome and decorated with frescoes with scenes from Don Quixote, and the floor is made of exotic wood. The most solemn room is the room for ambassadors - the floor here is made of marble slabs, and the ceiling depicts paintings from the life of the royal family.
The palace is surrounded by a lush garden and park, which used to host knightly tournaments, concerts, fireworks and entertainment events for royal guests.
Belem Palace
The Belem Palace is the official residence of the President of Portugal. It is located in the Belem district, Lisbon, near the Jeronimites monastery and the Tagus River. The palace was founded in the 16th century by Prince Manuel.
The facade of the palace consists of five buildings of the 17th century, similar in architecture, erected by the Counts of Aveires. King John V, in the 18th century, acquired this palace, soon renovating the entire interior in the latest taste. And the small menagerie established at the palace by Queen Mary, and the arena subsequently attached to it, is currently becoming the State Museum of Crews.
During the construction of the central building, two architectural styles are intricately combined: Baroque and Mannerism. The terrace is formed by two balustrades. You can get to it by climbing the side stairs, decorated with azulejos tiles. On the terrace there are panels made of “azulejos” tiles, depicting scenes from the life of mythological heroes, such as “The Labors of Hercules” and others. Upon entering the palace, we find ourselves in the “Sala das Bikas” (literally “Water Hall”), the floor of which is made in black and white, and the walls are decorated with multi-colored panels.
If the palace used to be a place for receiving kings, now it is the official residence of the President of Portugal and the national flag flies over it.
Palace of Justice and Lisbon Prison
When you walk from Marqués de Pombal Square through the Edward VII Park, you come to the Palace of Justice, built in a modern style with the statue “Reason Conquers Strength” standing in front of it,
you pay attention to the ancient building standing nearby. At first you think that this is a museum, and only then do you understand what kind of building it is. Lisbon residents joke that this is the cheapest hotel in Lisbon.
Sights of Lisbon
Ajuda Palace. Lisbon. Portugal in December. Part 1. General history and partly the first floor. September 3rd, 2013
The Ajuda Palace is not very popular among tourists, I don’t know why. Its history is interesting, and, besides, although it doesn’t look like much from the outside, there is a lot of interesting things inside! 
The old building of the Ajuda Palace was built after the Lisbon earthquake in 1761. Although King Jose I and his family were in the Belem Palace during the disaster and were not injured, the incident so worried the ruler that he refused to live in buildings made of stone. By order of Jose, a new wooden palace was built in the elevated area of Ajuda, which was almost not exposed to seismic activity. Its interior was decorated with the best furniture and valuable fabrics, inlays and paintings. In 1794, a fire that broke out due to a candle destroyed almost the entire palace. Only some elements of the decoration have survived, stored today in the museum of the Ajuda Palace, the tower, and also, by a curious coincidence, part of the stonework that supported the second floor of the palace. 
On the site of the burnt residence, Prince Juan ordered the construction of a new palace. The Baroque project of the architect Manuel Caetano di Souza at the dawn of its implementation was corrected by the Italian Francesco Fabri and the Portuguese Jose da Costa e Silva, who returned to Lisbon after studying in Bologna. The architects convinced the prince that the new residence should be designed in the spirit of a new style - neoclassicism. 
The modification of the baroque foundation of the building, begun in 1802, was frozen only five years later: to escape Napoleon's army, the royal family and court moved to Brazil. During the first half of the 19th century, construction of the Ajuda Palace proceeded very slowly. At that time, there were as many as three royal residences and work in Ajuda began only when the royal family chose it as their residence. The palace became a permanent residence only in 1861, after the wedding of King Luis and the Italian princess Maria Pia of Savoy. 
The future queen (who was 15 years old at that time) was actively involved in arranging the Ajuda Palace. By her order, the wooden structures were updated, the furnishings were enriched: carpets, furniture and chandeliers were added. Many large halls were divided into several. For example, the ancient lobby was turned into three rooms: the Winter Garden, the Oak and Saxon halls. There were bathrooms with running water and bathtubs, a dining room for everyday meals and rooms for leisure, such as the Blue Room, the Chinese Room, the Music Room, an art workshop and even a billiard room.
Historically, the palace is divided into two zones - a common one on the first floor and a private one on the second... True, over time everything has been mixed up and now on the first floor there are meeting rooms and bedrooms, while on the second floor there are private offices and a throne room .
There are many rooms in the palace, however (there are 18 on the first floor, 12 on the second) and almost all of them are open to visitors. There were also a lot of photos from there, but I made an effort and divided them into 4 not very large posts). So, on the first floor there is a valet room (there is now a cash register))
This is followed by a small hall of Spanish tapestries. It is named so because there are 8 different sized tapestries hanging there and was used as a reception area for "formal guests" 
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Then a small Hall of Order or the Hall of Don Sebastian. You can't swing there with my lens 
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but the most pleasant thing there is the ceiling, which depicts the hunt of the goddess Diana, and behind it another hall with painted ceilings, the name of which I could not translate literary) Sala dos Contadores (Accountants Hall) 
Well, I’ll probably finish showing you the winter garden/marble room. The room is decorated with marble and agate, sent as a gift to the royal couple by the Egyptian colonies 
To be continued...
- Address: Largo Ajuda 1349-021, Lisboa, Portugal
- Telephone: +351 21 363 7095
- Website: palacioajuda.gov.pt
- Working hours: Thu-Tue from 10:00 to 18:00
- Architectural style: neoclassical architecture
Ajuda is a royal palace built in neoclassical style and located in. It is one of the most interesting cities. In addition, near the Ajuda Palace, the first in Portugal is located, in which a huge variety of exotic plants grow.
Historical referenceThe Ajuda Palace, like its botanical garden, owes its appearance to the terrible earthquake of 1755, which shook Lisbon and claimed more than 50 thousand lives.
The king refused to rebuild his palace in its original location, so the Ajuda area was chosen. Initially, a wooden house was built here, which residents quickly began to call the “royal shack” or “wooden palace”. Construction of the palace itself began at the end of 1794, after a fire destroyed the wooden structure.
Initially, the work was led by Manuela Sitano de Souza: he planned to erect a building in the late Baroque style with some Rococo elements. However, in the end, other architects began to complete the project - Francisco Xavier Fabri and José da Costa, who turned the palace into a beautiful example of neoclassical architecture.
In 1807, construction had not yet been completed when the palace was captured by Napoleon's troops, which is why the royal family was forced to flee to Brazil. It was only in 1826 that it was completed, and the Ajuda National Palace in Lisbon again became the residence of the royal family. It has been operating as a museum since 1968.
What interesting things can you see in the Ajuda Palace?
At the moment, the attraction is open to tourists and operates mainly as a tourist attraction. However, the government still sometimes uses it as a venue for special events.
The museum's collection includes a very large number of works of art. These include examples of painting (from the 15th to the 20th centuries), luxurious furniture in the style of Louis XV, and many different decorative elements - statues, tapestries, dishes, etc. Such rich decoration is due to the fact that at one time, thanks to the conquests and discovery of Brazil Diamonds Portugal was an incredibly rich country.
When visiting the Ajuda Palace, you should definitely look into the National Botanical Garden located next to it, which amazes with its collection of ornamental plants.
How to get to the Ajuda Palace in Lisbon?
The most convenient way to get there is by bus on route No. 760, or by tram No. 18. Stop – Palácio Da Ajuda.
The Ajuda National Palace is a very beautiful neoclassical building built in the 19th century in Lisbon. At first it was the residence of the kings, and in 1938 it was converted into the Museum of Decorative Arts. The light facade of the three-story building immediately attracts attention with a magnificent portico with columns, which is echoed by elegant pilasters running along the entire first and second floors. At the entrance, 23 sculptures of virtues are installed in niches of a three-arched bay, and inside is an impressive collection of furniture, tapestries and other masterpieces of decorative art.
What to see
On the ground floor there are rooms for government and artistic events, including presidential ceremonies.
Of particular interest in the museum are the Diplomatic Hall, in which you can see paintings on the ceiling, and on the walls - tapestries with the coats of arms of the kings of Portugal, the Great Auditorium with luxurious furniture and a white marble staircase decorated with fine carvings.
In the South Tower of the palace there is a spectacular Throne Hall: in addition to the throne itself, silk-draped walls and exquisite valuable parquet flooring attract attention.
There is something special in all the rooms of the Ajuda Palace: in the Great Dining Room there is a stunning painted lampshade, in the Hall of Decrees there is gilded furniture and chandeliers, in the living quarters of the kings there is every household detail: four-poster beds, chests, toilet rooms. You should definitely check out the Blue and Pink Rooms and the Winter Garden.
Practical information
Address: Lisbon, Largo Ajuda, 1349-021.
The Ajuda Palace is located in the Belem region, near the Belem Tower. From the central square of Praça do Comercio you can get to it by tram number 18. Or you can walk from the Belem district, but you need to keep in mind that the palace is located on a mountain, so those who decide to take such a walk will have a long climb.
Opening hours: from 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Wednesday. Entrance - 5 EUR. Prices on the page are as of November 2018.
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Other attractions nearby
- Where to stay: With an eye on the “excursion” - of course, in numerous hotels and boarding houses, guest houses and hostels in the capital of Portugal, the many-sided Lisbon - here you can find an option for every taste and budget. Sun worshipers are invited to the resorts of the Lisbon Riviera - they are located just 15-30 minutes drive from the capital, so they are not far from historical monuments and nightclubs. Holidays in Sintra are relaxed and leisurely, surrounded by excellent beaches and ancient attractions. It’s easier for surfers to stop right away in Nazaré.
- What to see: In Lisbon - the historical center and the Castle of St. George, the oldest district of Alfama, the facades of houses in which are decorated with azulejos tiles, the Cathedral, the Carmo Monastery, the port, the statue of Christ (a copy of the Brazilian one) and majestic palaces. From the Lisbon Riviera it is worth going on an excursion to
