Country
Portugal
City / Region
Lisbon, Lisbon Region, Portugal, Europe
Museum Characteristics
A cultural body of the Portuguese Navy, covering military, merchant, leisure, and fishing navies. It has been undergoing a long-term requalification program since 2015, with digitalization efforts (Digital Museum) and educational programs. It aims to be more inclusive.
Collection Type
An extremely rich and unique collection that bears witness to the relationship of the Portuguese community with the sea. Includes pieces from Vasco da Gama's armadas, the "Santa Cruz" hydroplane, royal barges, navigation instruments, cartography, ship models, paintings, and a notable collection of astrolabes.
Collection Size
Over 25,000 pieces, 140,000 photographic items, 1,500 drawings/plans.
Main Exhibitions
Permanent: Discoveries Room, Great Sailing Ships Room, Naval Aviation Pavilion, Nautical Astrolabes. Temporary (2022): "Fuzileiros - 400 anos" (Marines - 400 years).
Observations
Founded by King Luís I, who was a Naval Officer. It integrates other museum branches, such as the one in Faro. A fire in 1916 destroyed a large part of the original collection. It was moved to the Jerónimos Monastery complex in 1962.
Source(s)
PORTUGAL. Ministério da Defesa Nacional. MUSEU DE MARINHA. UM MUNDO DE DESCOBERTAS. Revista da Comissão Portuguesa de História Militar, Ano II, N.º 2, 2022, p. 255-267. Disponível em: https://www.defesa.gov.pt/pt/defesa/organizacao/comissoes/cphm/rphm/edicoes/ano2/n22022/musmar/Documents/255-267.pdf. Acesso em: 29 maio 2025. COMISSÃO CULTURAL DE MARINHA. Como Chegar. Lisboa: Marinha Portuguesa. Disponível em: https://cultura.marinha.pt/pt/museu/sobrenos/comochegar. Acesso em: 29 maio 2025.