Portugal Attractions - Museums in Portugal

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By Isabella Olsen

Most tourists visit Portugal for its beautiful beaches. However, there are several amazing museums in Portugal, too. If you're going on a vacation in Portugal, you'll want to stop by some of them to make your trip more worthwhile.

One of the most popular museums in Portugal is the National Azulejo Museum or Tile Museum in Lisbon. Housed in the former Convento da Madre de Deus, the Tile museum offers more than just a spectacular collection of more than 7,000 tiles. It also displays other ceramic works and 18th century baroque ornaments.

While in Lisbon, you might also want to stop by the Calouste Gulbenkiam Museum. Here, you will be able to see a vast collection of art and antiquities, such as famous paintings, medieval manuscripts, Japanese prints, Chinese ceramics and other treasures from Syria, Egypt and Greece.

From Lisbon, you can take a trip to Sintra, a charming town which has its share of the museums in Portugal. Aside from the Sintra Museum of Modern Art which houses the famous Berardo collection, the Museo do Brinquedo or Toy Museum is well worth a visit. This museum prides itself on a collection of over 20,000 different toys - a collection built during a span of more than 50 years.

Evora is another enchanting destination located several miles east of Lisbon. It is here in this walled medieval city that you can find the historical Evora Cathedral, which has a museum of its own. This museum offers a display of various ecclesiastical treasures, such as a 13th century statue of the Virgin Mary and a 17th century cross.

Further up north is the 12th century town of Coimbra, which is also the site of the Museu Nacional Machado de Castro. Named after a famous Portuguese sculptor, the museum is one of the most important art museums in Portugal and is best known for its collection of sculptures from the 10th to the 18th century.

If you want to truly discover the history of Portugal, you'll have to go to Guimaraes, which is considered the nation's birthplace. This is because Guimaraes is the town where Afonso Henriques became the first king of Portugal. It is also the site of the Museu de Alberto Sampaio, a museum of religious relics, ceramics and ancient jewelry.

Finally, pay a visit to the Frederico de Freitas Museum in Madeira, which is one of the best antique museums in Portugal. It is a trove of antiques, including trophies, religious sculptures and ancient woodwork from China and North Africa. Don't forget to visit the other attractions in Madeira, as well, such as the Sao Vicente Caves or the fishing village of Canical. This way, you will truly enjoy your stay in the beautiful country of Portugal.

Isabella Olsen is a writer for various travel magazines who has toured global tourist destinations by car. To book your car rental Portugal or learn more about car rental worldwide, visit http://www.zencarhire.com.

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