Cultural Heritage
Founded in 1893 by José Leite de Vasconcelos, the national Museum of Archaeology settled in the Jerónimos Monastery in 1903 and opened to the public two years later, in 1905.
With a privileged view over Praça do Império gardens, in Belém district, the museum displays extensive collections, having accumulated, throughout its history, a wide collection in the most diverse areas, namely archaeology, ethnography, jewelry, numismatics, medals, sculpture or mosaics. Of greater prominence are the collections of Portuguese archaeology, of several periods throughout History.
In 1929, under the direction of Manuel Heleno, a new cycle began in the life of the institution. Several archaeological excavations were carried out between 1930 and 1960, and the result was an increase in the museum's reserves.
