Museu Calouste Gulbenkian

Museu Calouste Gulbenkian Review

On its own lush grounds, the museum of the celebrated Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, a cultural trust, houses treasures collected by Armenian oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian (1869-1955) and donated to Portugal in return for tax concessions. The collection is split in two: one part is devoted to Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, and Asian art and the other to European acquisitions. Both holdings are relatively small, but the quality of the pieces is magnificent, and you should aim to spend at least two hours here. English-language notes are available throughout.

In the gardens outside, sculptures are found in every recess. Follow signs to the Centro de Arte Moderna, which has one of the finest collections of Portuugese modern art. If it's all too much to take in at one time, break up your visit with a stop in the main museum's basement café-restaurant. There's also a large shop that sells posters and postcards.