The museum was founded in 1893 by the renowned archaeologist José Leite de Vasconcelos.
It holds one of the most important collections of Roman-era mosaics in the Iberian Peninsula.
The collection includes the Treasure of Baiões, a significant group of Late Bronze Age gold artifacts.
The museum maintains a specialized library dedicated to archaeology and ancient history.
It houses a notable collection of anthropomorphic stelae from the Bronze Age.
The institution conducts ongoing research and preservation of artifacts recovered from shipwrecks off the Portuguese coast.
The building was designed to integrate with the Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Museu Nacional de Arqueologia is Portugal's primary institution for the study and preservation of national archaeological heritage. Housed in the western wing of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, it occupies a significant site of Manueline architecture. The museum's extensive collections span from the Paleolithic era through the Roman and Visigothic periods. It contains artifacts recovered from across the Iberian Peninsula, documenting human habitation in the region over several millennia. The permanent exhibition includes a major collection of ancient jewelry and mosaics. It serves as a research center responsible for underwater archaeology and terrestrial excavations throughout Portugal. The museum functions as the state repository for materials found during national infrastructure projects.
The central atrium and the main gallery entrance, which capture the architectural transition between the monastery's cloisters and the museum's display spaces.
Combine your visit with the nearby Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, but allocate separate time for each as both are extensive.
Check the museum's temporary exhibition schedule online in advance, as these galleries are frequently updated.
Visit the 'Ancient Jewelry' exhibit first, as it is often considered the highlight of the collection.
Do not mistake the museum for the Maritime Museum, which is located in the adjacent wing of the same monastery complex.
Closed on Mondays and certain public holidays.
Maintain a quiet volume; photography is generally permitted, but strictly without the use of flash to protect sensitive artifacts.
