Portugal’s Royal Treasure Museum and Crown Jewels
Portugal’s Royal Treasure Museum and Crown Jewels now have a home in Lisbon. In 2021, the west wing of Ajuda National Palace was remodeled for a sum of 31 million euros.
The west wing now is the permanent home of the Portuguese Crown Jewels. The museum opened in June, 2022.
There is no entry through the Ajuda National Palace. Visitors coming from the National Palace entrance must go across the courtyard and pay a separate entrance fee.
For more information on the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, read my Ajuda National Palace: A quick guide
What will you see at the Royal Treasure Museum?
The Royal Treasure Museum (Museu do Tesouro Real) offers 11 different themes and interactive exhibits over three floors of the new wing of the Ajuda National Palace.
Gold and Diamonds from Brasil
Coins and Medals of the Crown
Jewels – both owned by the state and privately owned by different monarchs.
The centerpiece below is an emerald, diamond, and silver Bodice Ornament, made in France in the middle of the 18th-century.
The snuff box in the same photo was made in France in 1755-1756. It includes diamonds, emeralds, gold, and silver. Created by Jean Ducrollay and Louis Rouce.
Orders of Knighthood and Orders of Merit
Diplomatic Gifts
Sacred objects from the Royal Chapel
Royal Silver
The Royal Table
The Treasure’s Travels – This is an exhibition of items that left the country when the royal court moved to Brasil to avoid the French Invasion in 1807. Many of these pieces returned with the king in 1821.
There are more than 1000 pieces in the Royal Treasure Museum collection.
The Portuguese Royal Crown (also known as the Crown of Dom João VI) was made by goldsmith António Gomes da Silva in 1817.
The crown is pure gold and has eight arches, but does not hold any gems.
Visitors will also be able to appreciate Dom João VI’s Sceptre of the Armillary, also created by Dom António Gomes da Silva in 1817.
You can see the diamonds and gold of Brazil, Portuguese coins and medals, jewelry and ritual objects that belong to the monarchy, royal silverware, sacred objects, and diplomatic gifts from other countries.
Special pieces include the royal crown, Donna Marianas emerald bowl, the second largest gold nugget in the world, and an 18th-century tobacco box owned by Don José.
Since it opened in 2022, the Royal treasure museum includes one of the largest vaults in the world. It is 40 m long 10 m wide and 10 m high. It is equipped with high-tech security and video surveillance equipment, 5-ton armored doors, temperature and humidity control, and bulletproof glass. Source: Lisbon Welcomes Royal Treasure Museum (ftnnews.com)
There is a security screening center prior to riding the elevator which can only be ridden by a few registered patrons at a time.
Tickets for the National Treasure Museum
Admission to the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda is not included. There is no package for the two sites.
Admission to the Royal Treasure Museum is more expensive than admission to the Ajuda National Palace. That is probably due to the large cost of renovation and expensive security equipment.
Nonetheless, the Royal Treasure Museum is a great exhibit and is worth the price of admission.
Ages 7 to 24 years pay 7€
Ages 25 to 64 years pay €10€
A to 65 and older pay 7€
Free admission for children ages 0-6
The family package allows two adults and two young people for 32€
Lisboa Card allows for free admission.
Hours of the Royal Treasure Museum
Hours: Open every day from 10 am until 6 pm. The last admission is at 5 pm.
Official website: Welcome | Museu do Tesouro Real
How to get to the National Treasure Museum
Location: Largo da Ajuda
Bus: 729, 732, 742
Tram 18 stops in front
These city tours stop here as well. Hop on Hop off bus, Cityrama, and Carristur
GPS Coordinates: 38.707790, -9.198818
Thank you for reading about Portugal’s Royal Treasure Museum and Crown Jewels. To learn more about the nearby Belém neighborhood, read my Lisbon’s historic Belém neighborhood | Everything you need to know
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