Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Portugal Travel Journals & Blogs

Traveler Rob’s Rambles ‘23
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- May 21, 2023
- ☁️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 68 m
- Portugal Lisbon District Socorro São Sebastião da Pedreira Museu Calouste Gulbenkian 38.737808, -9.15352738°44’16” N 9°9’13” W
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Day 10
Lisboa- Gulbenkian Collection
May 21, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Calouste Gulbenkian an oil magnate (1869-1955) was a passionate art collector, but with an eye only for the best. The displays cover a vast period and have a broad geographical spread. It’s best display I have ever seen. From Egyptian to impressionist, from ceramics to carpets, from furniture to jewellery. The gardens are beautiful and there is relaxed atmosphere.Read more
Traveler Such attention to detail. Love your favourites and I’d add the Ghirlandaio’s, ‘Portrait of a Young Woman’. And how about the museum itself! I was bewitched by the gift shop as well.
5/22/23Reply
Traveler Couldn’t agree more, I’ll add portrait of a young woman!
5/22/23Reply
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Traveler Europe 2023
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- May 1, 2023, 9:44am
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 66 m
- Portugal Lisbon District Socorro São Sebastião da Pedreira Museu Calouste Gulbenkian 38.738333, -9.15333338°44’18” N 9°9’12” W
Day 10
Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (Not!)
May 1, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Doug wanted to be out the door at 8 am to squeeze this art museum in before we left. Actually arrived 45 minutes early into a modern area of town which was largely residential, nice flats. Gave us time to walk the gardens around the museum and the acreage includes an amphitheater, café and they are building a very deluxe looking museum of modern art behind the existing buildings. 10 am and What!! not open. Then the sign..... Lesson learned, check opening times night before just in case anything has changed....or you've missed the fine print. May 1 is Labor Day in Portugal, many places are not open. The restaurant we went to end of day was very busy as a result and one of the waiters commented there are too many closing days in Portugal when you add all the holidays related to Saints. We've had two holidays since our arrival 10 days ago (Freedom or Liberation Day and now Labour Day)!

Oh well .. found a coffee shop om the way to the bus station with great WiFi and did some journaling.Read more
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Portugal - Mandy and Jo
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- Jun 7, 2018, 9:05pm
- 🌧 16 °C
- Altitude: 256 ft
- Portugal Lisbon District Socorro São Sebastião da Pedreira Museu Calouste Gulbenkian 38.73807, -9.1543738°44’17” N 9°9’16” W
Day 8
Damp
June 7, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
After much debate we decided that given the weather we would go and look at some art. The Gulbenkian seemed like a good choice, a good chronological stretch and some interesting stuff. Hmmmm
We got off the metro and the Gulbenkian was discreetly hidden away but we found it thanks to Google maps. When we arrived it was 10e and no student discount. We were a bit miffed at the price, but it had such a good write up in Lonely Planet that we coughed up.
Pah... It just didn't do it for us, no free range wandering, there was a set order. We were looking forward to the Mesopotamian pots we'd been promised. Nope, one panel and that was it. We hit the cafe as consolation, which also felt unsatisfactory in a nebulous fashion. After a restorative tea and scone we tried again but it didn't feel good. We grumped off to the metro and headed for the Mosterio at Belem. A busy tram and the rain was more serious but we arrived just in time for last entry and no queue unlike earlier in the week. It is an impressive space with some informative displays, especially the time line that layered work events, Portuguese history and the monastery history into a single display. Afterwards we emerged into the by now fairly persistent rain and headed to the tram stop. It was rammed. We had to stand all the way back to the centre and mostly there wasn't enough room to fall over, the crush of bodies held you upright even as the tram lurched.
Finally we made it back, a quick sit down and we headed back around the corner to Taberna Baixa for dinner. Very good and Mandy came away with the little thimble that the cherry brandy was served in.Read more
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Traveler Portugal 2018
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- Jun 8, 2018, 12:16pm
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 223 ft
- Portugal Lisbon District Socorro São Sebastião da Pedreira Museu Calouste Gulbenkian 38.737812, -9.15354638°44’16” N 9°9’13” W
Day 3
Gulbenkian museum
June 8, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
We checked out of our hotel at 12 noon, and luckily they were ok holding our bags. Because the museum was so close to the place we were staying I thought it would be a good idea to see that museum today while we had to wait till 3 to check into the apartment. we did navigate our way to the subway where we got a viva via gem card. This is just like our compass card and you "zap" it when you enter and exit the stations.

We walked to the Gulbenkian.....amazing museum. Lots and lots and lots of stuff to see. They had some lovely Egyptian reliefs, and carvings done in Obsidian and Basalt. Volcanic rocks from somewhere.

They had an amazing persian section. Lots and lots of tiles, persian rugs, silk pillows. You can see the influence of the ottoman/turk tiles on the portuguese azalejo tiles.

Then there was an asian section that we had to skip, just not enough time.

Some pretty amazing french provincial furniture

Then a lot of paintings, Turners, Rembrantds, more Dutch painters I didn't recognize, Gainsborough (english), Manet and Monet, Renoir, and some sculptures by Rodin. Eternal springtime one of my favourites ( I wouldn't have known the name unless i saw it, i just recognize the sculpture).

Unfortunately the gift shop was out of the English guides, but they gave me an email address so I hope to get it on line in the future. We did pick up a small English language book on Gulbenkian himself the man.

after the museum, colin gave me to 4, i renegotiated till 5. we hit a small cafe where we had espresso and 2 lovely egg type desserts. Very yummy and only 4 euros total. I think we worked off the desert on our hill climbing to find the apartment!

We went back to the hotel, pick up the luggage, and took the metro. Transferring from the yellow line (campo pequeno) to the green line. We took the green line to the end Cais do Sodre. Then the uphill climb to our place, but it is rather close so when we leave it will be quick to go downhill to the metro and back to the airport. taking the red line.Read more
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