• Palácio Nacional e Jardins de Queluz - The Palace of Queluz and its gardens stand as a premier example of late 18th-century Portuguese architecture.

Commissioned by Pedro III, the spouse of D. Maria I (1734-1816), and serving as a royal residence, this palace exemplifies the finest Portuguese architecture of the late 18th century.

The palace is further enhanced by a significant museum of decorative art, showcasing collections primarily from the royal family, displayed in a fitting environment. Many rooms feature rocaille-style decorations, including the magnificent Throne Room, adorned with mirrors and exquisite carved gilded woodwork.

The surrounding gardens are adorned with fountains and ornamental ponds, where water gracefully flows from mythological figures. The sculpture ensemble around the Neptune Basin is particularly striking.

• Torre de Belém - The Tower of Belém, with its harmonious and delicate ornamentation, resembles a finely crafted jewel to all who behold it. However, its contemporaries viewed it differently: as a formidable bastion defending the Tagus entrance, capable of combining firepower with the St Sebastian tower on the opposite riverbank. Commissioned by King Manuel I (1495-1521) and constructed by Francisco de Arruda between 1514 and 1521, the tower was built on a basalt island near the right bank of the Tagus, opposite Restelo beach. Over time, the river’s course changed, leaving the tower nearly engulfed by the bank.

The tower’s quadrangular shape is reminiscent of medieval castles and features a polygonal bulwark, a defensive element enabling it to withstand heavy bombardment from the sea. The watch posts, with their burgeoning cupolas at each corner, reflect Moroccan fortification influences. Apart from these Moorish influences, the decoration predominantly follows the Manueline style, evident in the stone layouts, heraldic designs, and even the famous rhinoceros, the first stone statue of the animal in Europe.

The most elaborately decorated side of the Tower faces south, featuring a narrow balcony. On the cloistral wall above the bulwark, a sculptured image of the Virgin with Child from the 18th century forms the tower’s prow.

The interior is worth exploring, especially to reach the top floor, where the effort is rewarded with stunning views over the Tagus estuary and the western side of a city that still evokes the Portuguese Era of Discovery.

• Mosteiro dos Jerónimos - The site of the Jerónimos Monastery, adjacent to the old Belém beach, originally housed a small hermitage dedicated to Santa Maria, built by Infante D. Henrique in 1452. In the early 16th century, King Manuel I’s plan to construct a large monastery there was approved by the Holy See and donated to the Order of the Friars of St. Jerome. As the epitome of Manueline architecture and closely linked to the Discoveries, this monastery is the most remarkable Portuguese monastic ensemble of its era and one of Europe’s main churches.

Construction began in 1501, lasting a century, led by a distinguished group of architects and master builders, both national and foreign. Initially designed by Frenchman Boytac, the work continued under other Masters, including João de Castilho and, mid-century, Diogo de Torralva. Following the Portuguese arrival in India, the crown funded the project with trade revenues from the East. King D. Manuel I allocated much of the “Vintena da Pimenta” (a ‘Spice Tax’, about 5% of trade revenues with Africa and the East, equivalent to 70kg of gold annually) to finance the construction.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site features notable facades, the church, and cloisters. On the south facade, admire the portal by João de Castilho, where figures are arranged hierarchically: below, Infante D. Henrique guards the entrance, the Virgin of Bethlehem blesses the monument, and Archangel Saint Gabriel, Portugal’s protector, completes the arc. The western portal, the entrance to the sacred space, is by Nicolau Chanterenne. To the left, protected by St. Jerome, is King D. Manuel’s statue, said to be a realistic portrait, and to the right, Queen D. Maria’s statue, protected by St. John the Baptist.

Inside, the church-hall, a Manueline masterpiece by João de Castilho, features a remarkable architectural achievement: the beautiful transept vault is unsupported by columns. At the entrance, after the lower-choir, are the cenotaphs of poet Luís de Camões, author of the epic “Os Lusíadas,” and Vasco da Gama, commander of the 1497 armada to India. The side chapels house the tombs of King D. Manuel I’s descendants. In the main chapel, later reconstructed by Jerónimo de Ruão, are the tombs of D. Manuel I, his son D. João III, and their wives. Noteworthy is the solid silver tabernacle, a mid-17th-century Portuguese silversmith masterpiece.

• Padrão dos Descobrimentos - The imposing Monument to the Discoveries marks its presence on the Belém riverside. Designed in 1940 to commemorate the “Exposition of the Portuguese World,” promoted by the Salazar government to celebrate the eighth and third centenaries of the Portuguese nation’s founding and restoration (1140 and 1640, respectively), it was only built in 1960 to mark 500 years since Prince Henry the Navigator’s death. Designed by architect Cottinelli Telmo, it features sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida’s work.

Standing 52 meters tall, the monument symbolizes a caravel, led by Prince Henry the Navigator, followed by a procession of 32 prominent figures from the Era of Discoveries, including King Afonso V (1432-81), the driving force behind the initial discoveries, Vasco da Gama (1460-1524), who discovered the maritime route to India, Pedro Álvares Cabral (1467-1520), who discovered Brazil, and Ferdinand Magellan, who completed the globe’s circumnavigation in 1522, among others.

The façade facing the ground resembles a cross adorned with the Sword of the Order of Aviz, the main financial sponsor of the voyages.

• National Coach Museum - The Coach Museum was initiated by Queen D. Amélia de Orléans e Bragança, wife of King D. Carlos I (1889-1908), and inaugurated in 1905. It houses an exceptional and unique collection of richly adorned royal vehicles from the 17th to 19th centuries (coaches, berlins, carriages, chaises, litters, sedan-chairs), used by Portuguese and other European courts, the Patriarchs of Lisbon, and Portuguese noble houses until the advent of the motor car.

Notable pieces in this unparalleled exhibition include Philip II’s rare traveling coach (late 16th century) and the three monumental coaches from the magnificent embassy sent by Portugal to Pope Clement XI in Rome (1716), featuring gilded woodwork iconography glorifying the Discoveries. The collection also includes a significant array of harnesses, ceremonial and coach service liveries, an 18th-century armory and accessories, and oil portraits of the Braganza Dynasty monarchs.

The Coach Museum (Museu dos Coches) is divided between the new building in Belém, the old Horse Riding Arena of the Royal Palace, both in Praça Afonso de Albuquerque, Lisbon, and the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa.

The new National Coach Museum building, inaugurated in May 2015, houses the most representative part of the collection. Located in Belém, where a former military workshop (Oficinas Gerais do Exército) once stood, it serves a dual purpose as a cultural facility and public space. According to Pritzker prize-winning architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha, who designed it, “the museum has no doors and creates opportunities for interaction on every side.” The project aims to be more than just a museum; it also functions as urban infrastructure, providing the city with a “public space,” expanding the museum’s exhibition area and technical support infrastructure, and offering new aspects for visitors to appreciate at Portugal’s most-visited museum. The structure comprises a main building with a suspended hall and an annex, connected by an overpass allowing movement between them. The building layout creates a portico directed towards a freely accessible inner square.

The new museum features spaces for permanent and temporary exhibitions, areas for reserve collections, and a workshop for conservation and restoration, contributing to the development of conservation and restoration of this heritage type. Additionally, it includes new spaces for a library and archives, an auditorium seating 330 people, a restaurant/bar and cafeteria, and a gift shop.

The Horse Riding Arena of the Royal Palace, initially adapted into a museum by architect Rosendo Carvalheiro and later by Raul Lino, is worth visiting, representing the 18th century. The paintings by José Malhoa and Conceição e Silva, two important Portuguese artists, deserve special mention.

• Private transportation
• Bottled water provided
• Air-conditioned vehicles
• Complimentary Wifi access

• Tickets / Meals / Gratuities
• Any Private Expenses

Queluz is home to an iconic monument - the majestic Palace of Queluz, known as ‘The Portuguese Versailles,’ from the 18th century. Upon reaching Belém, we save time to marvel at the splendid monuments such as the Belem Tower, the Monastery dos Jerónimos - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Monument to the Discoveries, and the National Coach Coach Museum, showcasing a unique exhibit of gala and touring cars from the 16th to 19th century, unparalleled in the world.

We are experts in providing services and crafting unique travel experiences in Portugal. Our wealth of experience equips us well to understand, cater to, and surpass your expectations. We are excited to host you on a full day tour through Queluz and Belém.

Get ready to explore the finest of Portugal!

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