Geological Museum

The Geological Museum of Lisbon is a fascinating institution located in the heart of the city, housed in the ancient convent of Jesus, a building with over 150 years of history. Founded in 1859, the museum is part of the National Laboratory of Energy and Geology and houses one of the most important geological collections in Portugal. Its nineteenth-century character and the unchanged exhibition structure over time make it a true journey into the past, so much so that it has been nicknamed “the museum of museums”. The collection of the Geological Museum is distributed in four large rooms, each dedicated to a different aspect of earth sciences: paleontology and stratigraphy, vertebrate paleontology, prehistoric archaeology, and mineralogy. Each room offers a rich assortment of fossils, rocks, minerals, and artifacts that tell the geological and prehistoric history of Portugal and the world. One of the most fascinating pieces is the fossil of a 20-million-year-old crocodile, discovered in the Chelas neighborhood in Lisbon. This fossil represents one of the most significant paleontological discoveries of the museum, offering a detailed look at one of the prehistoric creatures that once inhabited the region. In addition to this, the museum also houses fossils of the world’s oldest snakes, dating back 150 million years, and remains of mammals from the Jurassic period. The section dedicated to vertebrate paleontology is particularly impressive, with a wide range of fossils that include dinosaur legs and footprints. These artifacts not only tell the evolutionary history of the species that populated the Earth millions of years ago but also offer valuable clues about the environmental and climatic conditions of the past. The prehistoric archaeology room presents tools and artifacts used by prehistoric humans, highlighting the ingenuity and adaptability of our ancestors. Among these are stone tools, worked bones, and other objects that offer a glimpse into the daily life of prehistoric communities that inhabited the Portuguese territory. The mineralogy collection is another gem of the museum, with over 4,000 samples of rocks and minerals from around the world. These specimens not only showcase the variety and beauty of natural materials but are also essential for understanding the different geological formations and processes that shape our planet. Visitors can admire crystals of various shapes and colors, some of which are rare and of great scientific value. An interesting anecdote concerns the discovery of a dinosaur footprint in the Lourinhã region, north of Lisbon. This footprint, displayed in the museum, is one of the most extraordinary pieces of evidence of the presence of these giant reptiles in the territory we now call Portugal. The discovery has attracted the attention of the international scientific community and has helped position the museum as a center of excellence for paleontology. The museum is located on Rua da Academia das Ciências, a quiet street in the Príncipe Real neighborhood. Although less known than other tourist attractions in Lisbon, the Geological Museum is definitely worth a visit for anyone interested in natural history and geology. Its location, just a short walk from Rato metro station and the Rua Escola Politécnica tram stop, makes it easily accessible.