Carriage Museum

The National Coach Museum, located in Lisbon, is one of the most important museum institutions in Portugal and one of the most significant carriage collections in the world. Founded in 1905 by Queen Amelia of Orléans and Braganza, wife of King Carlos I, the museum aims to preserve and enhance a unique heritage that testifies to centuries of history, art, and engineering. The original headquarters of the museum is located in the ancient Royal Stables, an elegant 18th-century building in the Belém district, designed by architect Giacomo Azzolini. This building, with its classical architecture and richly decorated interiors, is the perfect place to house a collection of such importance. In 2015, to meet the growing number of visitors and the conservation needs of the carriages, a new building designed by Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha was inaugurated, offering modern and functional exhibition spaces. The Lisbon Coach Museum offers a journey through the history of wheeled transportation, with a collection that includes carriages, coaches, chaises, and sedan chairs from the 16th to the 19th century. Each vehicle is a work of art, combining mechanical engineering with artistic craftsmanship, reflecting the taste, style, and power of the eras in which they were built. One of the most impressive pieces in the museum is the carriage of King John V, used for the marriage of Infanta Maria Anna Vittoria to the future King Louis XV of France. This carriage, richly decorated with gilding and elaborate carvings, represents the pinnacle of Portuguese baroque. Its decorations symbolize the power and magnificence of the Portuguese monarchy, with mythological and allegorical scenes celebrating the virtues of the kingdom. Equally remarkable is the carriage of Pope Clement XI, a gift from King John V on the occasion of his visit to Rome. This vehicle is an exceptional example of art and diplomacy, with iconographic details expressing the bond between the Church and the Portuguese monarchy. Its rich decorations in gold and silver, along with papal and royal coats of arms, make this carriage a symbol of prestige and faith. The museum also dedicates space to service carriages and sedan chairs, used for more practical purposes such as transporting goods or people over short distances. These vehicles, although less lavish, are equally important for understanding the evolution of transportation and the technical innovations that made travel and trade possible. An interesting anecdote concerns the so-called “Carriage of the Oceans,” a vehicle built to celebrate the Treaty of Tordesillas of 1494, which divided the New World between Portugal and Spain. This carriage, with its decorations representing maps and maritime symbols, symbolizes Portugal’s central role in exploration and the discovery of new worlds. It is a tribute to the age of great discoveries and the Portuguese contribution to cartography and navigation. In addition to the collection of vehicles, the Coach Museum also houses a series of accessories and objects related to the world of wheeled transportation. Among these are horse harnesses, maintenance tools, coachmen’s uniforms, and even paintings and prints depicting travel and transportation scenes. These objects complete the picture of life and culture of transportation in the pre-motorized era.