Oriental Museum

Before your eyes is a former cod warehouse from the 1940s that became one of Europe's most remarkable museums dedicated to centuries of cultural exchange between Portugal and Asia. The Museu do Oriente opened in May 2008 along the Alcântara waterfront after a 30 million euro transformation. Portugal was the first European power to establish lasting ties with Asia, keeping Macau until 1999, longer than any other colonial presence in the East.

This building preserves that unique history. Inside are two extraordinary collections totaling over 16,000 objects. The Portuguese Presence in Asia displays 1,600 pieces spanning from 3000 BC to the mid 20th century. You'll find priceless Japanese folding screens from the 17th and 18th centuries, rare navigational charts used by Portuguese explorers, and crucifixes crafted in Asian workshops specifically for European markets.

The second collection, donated by collector Kwok On, contains more than 15,000 items documenting Asian performing arts. Indonesian shadow puppets, Timorese ritual masks, Chinese opera costumes, and artifacts from Turkey to Southeast Asia fill the galleries. The museum also houses Indo Portuguese furniture, antique snuff bottles, and Japanese armor from when two distant worlds first met through trade and exploration.