A palace-like building
Interior decoration at a level you would not expect in a former arsenal.
Carlos Luis M C da Cruz — Public domain · Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Pedro Ribeiro Simões — CC BY 2.0 · Pedro Ribeiro Simões from Lisboa, Portugal — CC BY 2.0
A military museum in a building that served as an artillery foundry and arsenal from the eighteenth century, near Santa Apolónia station east of central Lisbon. The collection is broad: cannon, weapons, armour and flags from the sixteenth to the twentieth century, with sections on the Napoleonic wars in Portugal and on the First World War, in which Portugal fought on the Western Front — a period many visitors know nothing about. But what surprises more than the exhibits is the building: the halls are decorated with large murals, painted ceilings and azulejos, at a level of ornament you would not expect in a military museum. Some rooms feel closer to a palace than an arsenal, and that alone makes the visit distinctive. The museum is large and rarely crowded, and the location near Santa Apolónia station and the São Vicente de Fora monastery lets you combine them. It suits an interest in military history or in interiors, rather than being a priority on a short visit.
Interior decoration at a level you would not expect in a former arsenal.
A section on its part on the Western Front — a period many visitors know nothing about.
Rarely crowded next to the central museums, with generous space.
Largo do Mosteiro de São Vicente de Fora, near Santa Apolónia station
The National PantheonThe Pantheon is Lisbon's white dome over Alfama: the church of Santa Engrácia wh3 minutes walk4.4
Monastery of São Vicente de ForaA late sixteenth-century monastery and church east of the Alfama, among the larg4 minutes walk4.8
Fado MuseumA museum devoted to fado, the singing style that emerged in Lisbon in the ninete5 minutes walk4.5
Miradouro das Portas do SolA viewing terrace on the edge of the Alfama, looking east over the roofs of the 7 minutes walk4.6
Alfama & its MiradourosAlfama is Lisbon's oldest soul: the quarter that survived the 1755 quake keeping10 minutes walk4.5The building itself is a reasonable reason: the interior decoration of murals, painted ceilings and azulejos makes the halls feel closer to a palace. If your time in Lisbon is short, Belém, the Alfama and the castle come first, but if you are in the area the entry is cheap and the surprise is real.
The São Vicente de Fora monastery is a short walk away, Santa Apolónia station is beside it, and the Feira da Ladra market is held nearby on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The four make a half day east of the centre with no transport.