National Coach Museum, Belem, Lisbon
Lisbon's National Coach Museum in Belem contains the largest collection of antique coaches in the world. Housed in a magnificent old horse riding arena, the carriages seem weighed down by the centuries, and approach beauty despite their unrestrained ornamentation.
National Coach Museum
Horse Riding Arena
Belem, Lisbon, Portugal
Maria Ana of Austria Coach
1708
Austria or Holland
Processional Berlin
early 18th century
Portugal
Olive oil lamps held by footmen
while following royal coaches.
Olive oil lamps held by footmen
while following royal coaches.
King Joao V Coach
with Zodiac Wheels
early 18th century
Portugal
Processional Berlin
late 18th century
Portugal
for transportation of sacred statues
Embassy Coach
1716
Italian
The baroque Embassy Coach was sent to Pope Clement XI in 1716 by King Joao V. Its decorations represent the Atlantic Ocean meeting the Indian Ocean, as is depicted in the diagram below.
Gods and Personifications
of the Embassy Coach