Description of the attraction
The Oriental Museum is located near the 25 April Bridge, which stretches over the Tagus River, and is housed in a former warehouse. The main theme of the museum is unique works of art from Asia with an emphasis on the presence of Portugal in the countries of the East.
The museum was opened in 2008. In order to turn the former warehouse into a museum, it took about 30 million euros.
The museum's collection is owned by the Oriental Portugal Foundation and includes Indo-Portuguese specimens, Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian ceramics, textiles, furnishings, paintings and masks. One of the halls in the museum is dedicated to the former Portuguese colonies in the East. The exhibits recreate a picture of the days when Portugal was one of the most influential countries in the world in the spice trade. Visitors can see rare exhibits that tell the story of Catholic Asia and reflect its cultural and religious diversity, including rare crucifixes, jewelry and other art objects, as well as unique maps and blueprints from the earliest colonial days. An extremely interesting collection can be found in the "Gods of Asia" hall. Museum guests can also view exhibits from the extensive Kwok On collection, which was donated to the Oriental Foundation. The Kwok Collection is a collection of thousands of different items that are directly related to Asian art, including Hindu and Buddhist designs.
The museum has a cultural center, the program of which includes shows, theatrical performances, conferences, seminars that are held in the center's auditorium. The learning center offers courses that introduce Asia, for example, its culture and cuisine.
