Museu Calouste Gulbenkian

The Museu Calouste Gulbenkian aka Gulbenkian Museum, in Avenida de Berna, northeast of the Eduardo VII park, is a museum that exhibits the extensive collections of the late Calouste Gulbenkian. Gulbenkian was an Armenian ex-pat who lived in Lisbon during the latter part of his life. He was a passionate collector of art who managed to create one of the most important collections in the world, consisting of pieces from all over the world and dating from antiquity until the early twentieth century.

Of Armenian origin, Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian was born in Üsküdar, in Turkey, in the middle of the Ottoman Empire. In 1896, due to the persecution suffered by the Armenian community, Gulbenkian left Turkey with his family. After a brief stint in Cairo, he established himself in London and acquired British nationality. Later, he bought a small palace located on Avenue d’Iéna, in Paris. With the outbreak of the Second World War, Gulbenkian moved to Lisbon, where he stayed until his death in 1955.

Medieval manuscripts, Chinese vases & paintings by artists like Rubens, Rembrandt, Renoir, and Monet. The magnificent collection of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Islamic & Asian art is a real treasure trove with important artifacts covering all historic and cultural periods. The pleasant garden & the Ice-cream shop and the restaurant-café with a terrace overlooking the garden are also a treat. More