The Ajuda National Palace is located in Lisbon, Portugal. Built as a summer residence for the Portuguese monarchy, the palace grounds high in the Ajuda hills date back to the mid 1700’s. Ownership of the grounds returned to the Portuguese state after the Revolution of 1910. Today, the palace is open as a museum and houses a collection of Portuguese decorative and fine art dating from the 15th through 20th century.
An extensive decorative arts collection includes furnishings, ceramics, gold and silverware, glass, jewelry and textiles. The museum also houses a collection of painting, sculpture and photography. Many of the items in the collection once belonged to the Portuguese monarchy, having been returned to the state after the 1910 Revolution. A special collection of Civilian Objects includes mostly utensils, kitchenware, smoking equipment and make-up kits, dating back to the early 19th century.
A 17,000-piece ceramic collection includes porcelain, earthenware and stoneware dating back to the 16th century. Much of the collection was either gifted to the Crown, or selected by Queen Maria Pia and includes Chinese export porcelain as well as the finest German and French ceramics. The Gold and Silverware collection dates back to the 14th century. The collection is categorized into decorative or utilitarian silverware, Crown silver, and religious gold and silver. Highlights include the crown tableware known as “Germain” tableware, as it was commissioned by King Jose I from François Thomas Germain, the well-known French silversmith. Religious jewelry pieces mostly date to the 18th and 19th century and were used in the royal chapels. Many of the daily use items were purchased by Queen Maria Pia in the later half of the 19th century.
A 12,500-piece glassware collection includes decorative and utilitarian objects, including windowpanes and light fixtures. Again, most of the utilitarian items were purchased by Queen Maria Pia, and reflect her particular taste. Large table sets represent the top 19th century manufacturers in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Austria and England. Many items feature the monograms of the King and Queen.
The Palace’s furniture collection reflects the interior that would have been seen in the later half of the 19th century. An eclectic mix of items represents the style at the time, combining functional pieces with decorative ones. Furniture represents European styles complemented by exotic Asian and naturalistic influences. A textile collection dates back to the Royal collections of the early 17th century, including Royal chapel vestments, clothing and European tapestries. A later collection, dating to the last days of the Royal Monarchy, includes 19th century household linens and drapes, carpets and fabrics used in religious services.
Close to 1500 oil paintings, drawings, sketches and watercolors represent the Royal collections and the holdings of King Luís’ Painting Gallery. The Portuguese and European works date mainly to the 18th and 19th century and offer a historical overview of royal portraiture. A 7,000-piece photography collection represents the work of over 300 early photographers, and includes several portraits of the Royal family. Some 400 sculptural works hail mainly form the 19th and 20th century, primarily in the genre of neo-classism and romanticism.
A jewelry collection spans the 17th to 19th century and includes crown jewels, otherwise known as Royal House Splendor Jewelry. Items include adornment jewelry, jeweled weapons to complement formal gala uniforms, and foreign and national badges of honor. An “everyday jewelry” collection includes 19th century fine jewelry of Italian and French origin.
History: The palace was built in the mid 1700’s, originally as a wooden building made to house the royal family after the earthquake of 1755. By 1795 the first stone had been laid in what was to be a Baroque palace, although construction did not begin until 1802. After the Royal family fled for Brazil in 1807, the pace of construction was slowed further, following the invasion of the French. It was not until the later half of the 1800’s, following the marriage of King Louis I (1838-1889) to Dona Maria Pia (1847-1911) that the palace officially became a residence of the Portuguese Monarchy. The Baroque palace was finished in the neo-classical style of the time, and redecorated according to the taste of the Italian-born Maria Pia.
After the 1910 Revolution, the Palace fell into neglect and disrepair. In the 1930’s and 1940’s several attempts were made to complete the building and repair it. It opened to the public as a museum in 1968. In May of 1992, the Palace was assigned to the care of the Portuguese Institute of Architectural Heritage.
Ongoing Programs and Education: Visitors may tour the Palace’s ground floor, which represents the Royal family’s elaborate 18th and 19th century lifestyle, as well as the state rooms which are used today for government galas and events.
Largo da Ajuda 1349-021 Lisbon, Portugal, Phone: +35-12-13-63-70-95
