Visit the National Palace of Ajuda, Lisbon
If you are planning to visit the National Palace of Ajuda in Lisbon, here is everything you need to know.
Plan your visit
The easiest way to get to the National Palace of Ajuda is by bus. You find the entrance thru the arches that lead into a large vaulted vestibule.
You can pay at the reception, standard admission is €8, and if you have the Lisbon card you get in for free.
The exhibition is on two floors covering the south and east wing with official rooms and the apartments of the Royal family.
National Palace of Ajuda History
After the 1755 earthquake, which destroyed the old palace, King José I (1714-77) commissioned a wooden palace called barraca real, on the Ajuda hill. The earthquake-safe palace in wood burnt down in 1794. Work on a new palace, started in 1796, built in stone and limestone, representing the Baroque style started. It was, however, halted due to short funds and later halted again because of the Napoleonic invasion in 1807, followed by the Royal Family’s flight to Brazil. Building of the palace would stop and being resumed several times during the first half of the 19th century.
The long building period resulted in that the palace has a Baroque floor plan and the principal characteristics in the Neoclassic style.
In a vaulted arcade, and collection of 25 sculptures, representing the Virtues, are on display. It took 20 years to make them work starting in 1813.
The royal family returned in 1821, at which point the Palace was still unfurnished and only used for ceremonies. A new chapter in the Palace history started, when King Luís I (1838-89) married Princess Maria Pia of Savoy (1847-1911), and it became a Royal Palace and the official residence of the royal family. The Palace had fallen into despair and had overall structural work. After the wedding in 1862, extensive alterations in the interior were taking place.
After the royal families exile and the new republican regime, the Palace closed down in 1910. It re-opened to the public in 1968 to allow visitors to see the interiors and collection of the royal residence. In the 1990s, the National Palace of Ajuda underwent refurbishment, and with historical research, the palace was restored to its former 19th century glory, being as historically accurate as possible.
The Queens bedroom
King Luís ordered for this rooms furniture and silk from Paris in 1861. The room was decorated in the Napoleon III style, which was then in vogue.
The bed is standing on a platform in the center of the room and bares the royal crest with two bedside tables, a commode toilet, a table, and a cabinet. To imitate ebony, it is all made of lacquered wood.
The painting at the ceiling predates 1816.
To the Queens private rooms is also the Green Room, used as a study and painting room. The Red Room used as a study, dressing room and prayer room, and after the bedroom comes the Dressing Room, used as a walk-in closet and later dressing room. The 1880s modernization added an adjacent bathroom with running water.
The Throne Room
The thrones are of the Joanine period, and of Portuguese origin with the Portuguese coat of arms. The large bronze chandelier, dates from the 19th century, probably of French origin and holds 180 lights. There are two portraits of King Luís parents Queen Maria II and King Ferdinand of Saxe Corburg-Gotha. They were painted in 1845 and 1846 by Ferdinand Krumholz.
The ceiling dates from 1825. At the top is the Heroic Virtue assisted by Pleasure of Virtue and Benevolence. The cornices features the four Roman Gods Apollo, Mercury, Diana and Minerva.
After the Throne room comes King João VI hall that were used as a Ball room during the reign of King Luís and was lined in silk in 1862, but is now removed. The chandeliers was made between 1862 and 1870, in England.
The next room is King João IV hall that was used by representatives of legislative and judicial powers, military and leading civic and ecclesiastical dignitaries during ceremonies. The painting in this room dates back to 1825.
The last room on the east wing axis is a oval room with a black and white marble floor, it was used for consents as it has good acoustics. The ceiling depicts a blue sky with clouds.
The Banqueting Hall
During the 19th century, the banqueting hall was the setting for the royal households banquets and important ceremonies. Banquets hosted by the President today, are still taking place at the Banqueting hall at the National Palace of Ajuda. In 1903 King Carlos commissioned the 180 chairs.
The Roman God Apollo, pulled by 4 horses, depict the center pies of the ceiling painting, dating back to 1825-26.
Accessibility and facilities
Inside the National Palace of Ajuda there is a lift to the upper floor and a portable ramp available. The WC is located at the end of the tour, this is also accessible with lift, and includes WC for wheelchair. The WC is not very modern, and if you are planing to visit the Royal Treasury after it would be recommended to use their WC facilities as they are very nice and modern.
The Palace is an old building and it was not made for modern use, therefore i would say the accessibility are not straight forward but manageable.
The museum shop is located at the entrance and are not very good, but they have a good guidebook you can buy which comes in different languages.
Public transport
By Tram: E15 to Mosteiro dos Jeórnimos (it will take apx. 26 min (uphill) to walk to the palace from here or take busses E18 or 729).
By Bus:
Lg. Ajuda (Palácio): no 76B, 742, 760 (these busses stop just opposite the palace entrance and you will see it as you exit the buss).
Palácio Nacional Ajuda: no E18, 729 (these busses stop just outside the Royal Treasury and you will just past thru the building block and the Palace entrance are at the other side of the building).
R. D. Vasco: no 732 (it will take apx. 8 min to walk up to the palace from this bus stop.
Parking is available close to the Palace.
Tickets
Adult 8,00€
Student 4,00€
65 and over 4,00€
Lisbon Card enters for free
Children 0-12 years old enters for free
Opening times
Thusdays to Tuesdays:
10am to 6pm (closed on Wednesdays).
Closed on:
1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 24 and 25 December.