MUSEU NACIONAL DOS COCHES
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Emblematic museum of the city offering a visit to discover a beautiful collection of horse-drawn carriages.
Immerse yourself in the world of princes and princesses for a visit! The museum has moved to a larger building to accommodate the entire collection, as well as that of Vila Viçosa (Alentejo). It now comprises the main museum, an ultra-modern building with raw concrete accents highlighting the carriages, as well as the old building within the royal palace of Belém (Picadeiro Real), which can still be seen. This is one of the city's most emblematic museums (and one of the most visited!): you can almost hear the horses neighing! In fact, it's one of the world's finest collections of carriages. It's true that these highly ornate, gold-covered carriages are quite impressive... The first dates from the 16th century and the last from the mid-19th century. Don't miss the one belonging to Pope Clement XI's embassy - dos Oceanos, grafted with talha dourada, right down to the sumptuously worked wheels. The voluminous representation of the globe and the oceans on the back, charged with strong symbolism, still demonstrates in a beautiful way the leitmotiv of the era See and be seen. And this was the part of the carriage that was most visible at the moment of passage. It's also worth noting that procession carriages were very heavy: drawn by four horses for the nobility and six for the king. At the end of the tour, you'll even notice some sedan chairs, closed for the ladies to protect their headdresses.
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