Museo Militar

I have to admit that in a lifestyle full of surprises, the Museo Militar was an astonishing event.
Our normal bus in to Lisbon city centre passes  this fairly anonymous looking building just after the railway station at Santa Apolonia. After a concentration it seemed of late in religious buildings Lynne said we should go to see the military museum. I acquiesced with good grace whilst being particularly chuffed. As usual we entered at the completely wrong place, ( this being the obvious entrance by the railway station ) however after being told in no uncertain terms that this was a military establishment and the correct entrance was at the opposite end of the building, we took the long walk to the correct entrance.

We bought tickets and were directed to the first room of the museum. Its the small door just past Lynne in the photo.

What a surprise, not the arrangement of antique cannon, which Lynne had a passing interest it was the wonderful decoration of the walls and ceiling.

It seemed to portray the age of exploration and was almost a visual record of expansion and occupation of the world in a fantastic and romantic way. It almost reminded me of a scrapbook of maps and images and timelines, a sort of super graffiti if you like.

We attempted to ascertain the provenance of the paintings from the staff but were unfortunately stymied by our poor grasp of Portuguese, the helpful lady on reception did her best and we were a bit more enlightened however we were totally unprepared for the extent and splendour of the art and decoration throughout the museum.

Each room is a work of art in itself, with painted ceilings and panels.

I would be ecstatically examining a Baker rifle from the era of the peninsula war and Lynne would be entranced by the fabulous art on display above.

There was an art installation that had relevance to the great war, a conflict that Portugal was involved with, some of the exhibits were very moving. The installation of feet above, non of the pairs being similar I found particularly poignant.

 Of course the permanent exhibits were interesting and also for me reinforced the great war as a European conflict, and a tragedy of epic proportions and a failure of 19th century politics in a 20th century world.

 After the Great war we took a time machine into the 17th and 18th centuries, I was absorbed by the exhibits and Lynne was entanced by the fabulous ceilings and art works adorning the walls.

The rooms just seem to go on and on, each symbolic of an epoch or era. Each decorated in a particular style whether that be European or, in a recognition of Portugal's colonial past African or Indian or Asian.

Eventually the rooms disgorge you into the central courtyard that we glimpsed earlier before being redirected to the main entrance. There is strictly no filming or photography so you haven't seen this picture, OK. Tiles are nice though........

Hardly state of the art weaponry in my opinion, however.......

This is an undiscovered gem of Lisbon in my opinion, in all the time Lynne and I were there we seemed to be the only visitors, this may have been due to the time of year but even if you have no interest whatsoever in military history, just go to look up at the ceilings, you will not be disappointed

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