National Museum of Ancient Art

Welcome to the palace that holds Portugal's greatest art treasure, a masterpiece that disappeared for over 400 years. The National Museum of Ancient Art on Rua das Janelas Verdes is the country's most important art museum, housing over 40,000 works from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. This grand building was once home to the Marquis of Pombal, the powerful minister who rebuilt the capital after the catastrophic 1755 earthquake that destroyed much of the city.

The museum's most famous treasure is the Saint Vincent Panels, 6 large paintings created around 1470 by royal court painter Nuno Gonçalves. After the religious orders were abolished in 1833, these panels vanished completely. They were found by chance in 1883, hidden in a monastery storeroom covered in dust and nearly forgotten. The panels show 58 people from every level of medieval Portuguese society, from humble fishermen to kings and queens, all honoring Saint Vincent, the patron saint.

Art historians still debate the identity of many figures, including the man in the distinctive brown hat who may be Prince Henry the Navigator. The collection also includes Hieronymus Bosch's terrifying Temptation of Saint Anthony and the stunning Monstrance of Belém, created in 1506 from gold that explorer Vasco da Gama brought back from Africa.