Welcome to one of the world's most spectacular collections of royal carriages, where over 70 gilded masterpieces reveal the extravagance of European royalty. The National Coach Museum in Belém preserves centuries of craftsmanship that once transported Portuguese kings and queens through history. Queen Amélia founded this unique museum in 1905 inside the Royal Riding School, a magnificent building from 1787 with painted ceilings and elegant colonnades.
She gathered carriages from royal palaces across the country to save them from being lost forever. The oldest vehicle dates to 1619 when King Philip II used it during his visit to Portugal. The crown jewel is the Coach of the Oceans, created in Rome in 1716 for a diplomatic mission. King João V sent this extraordinary carriage to Pope Clement XI as part of a grand embassy.
Its surface gleams with golden sculptures depicting Portuguese naval victories and maritime exploration, showcasing the nation's power during its wealthiest era. The museum expanded in 2015 with a striking new building designed by Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha, winner of the prestigious Pritzker Prize. The collection includes ceremonial coaches, hunting carriages, and even small vehicles made for royal children pulled by ponies.
Sources. Story: Source story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Coach_Museum https://www.museusemonumentos.pt/en/museus-e-monumentos/national-coach-museum Photos: Source photo: By José Ciríaco - [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=134903413
