Meet the Picadeiro Real, an icon of the Portuguese historical memory!

One of the most sought after cultural destinations in Lisbon is the Museu dos Coches, a true icon of the Portuguese historical memory. Currently, the Museu dos Coches is divided into the Royal Picadeiro and the new and modern building inaugurated in 2015. Both located in the Afonso de Albuquerque Square in Belém, Lisbon.

The Picadeiro Real history began in 1726 when King D. João V bought a farm in the city of Belém and built the Picadeiro Real with the signature of the Italian architect Giacomo Azzolini. On May 23, 1905, the Museu dos Coches was inaugurated by Queen Amelia de Orleans e Bragança in this exact place. It’s the first in the world dedicated to this kind of transport. With the end of the Portuguese monarchy in 1910, several vehicles of the royal family became part of the collection.

Called as Coches National Museum since 1911, it is possible to see there the excellent work of protection and dissemination of this national patrimony. He is considered one of the best in the world in its specialty. The collection of the gala and touring cars from the 16th to 19th centuries, mostly from the Portuguese royal family, is unique in the world and deserves to be the center of attention.

Although many of these vehicles have been ordered from France and Italy, Portugal is the country with the most coches. The “coches”, are old carriages, used in certain solemnities. The richness of the pieces makes our eyes shine. The gala cars dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries were richly decorated with gold designs, luxurious velvet seats, and coats of arms of the Portuguese royal family.

In memory of the excellent work of protection and dissemination of this patrimony, initiated by the Queen D. Amélia, it remains in the old space called Antigo Picadeiro, an expositive core with carriages, the gallery of paintings from the royal family, as well as a set of cavalry accessories.

The collection’s oldest “coche” is that of King Filipe II, king of Portugal and Spain, which was used in his visit to Lisbon in 1619. One of the vehicles most sought after by the Brazilians tourists is that of D. Carlota Joaquina, mother of D. Pedro I – Emperor of Brazil. The vehicle arrived in Portugal in 1785, for her marriage with King D. João VI.

Another treasure found in the museum is the carriage of D. Maria I, also known as “Maria, a Louca” (Maria, the Mad), which is decorated with plants and pearls motifs around the royal coats of arms.

It is also worth to end the visit in the modern building of the Museu dos Coches, also in Belém.

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