Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > São Domingos de Benfica
The Music Museum was located in the São Domingos de Benfica area, in Lisbon. It operated for several years within the premises of the Alto dos Moinhos metro station, an unusual location integrated into the city's daily life.
It is important to note that this space at Alto dos Moinhos Station definitively closed to the public in October 2023. Its collection is being prepared for a future reinstallation at the Royal Building of Mafra.
The Music Museum holds one of the most important collections of musical instruments in Europe. Its vast collection comprises over a thousand pieces, covering a period from the 16th to the 21st century. It includes instruments of erudite and popular tradition, originating not only from Europe, but also from Africa and Asia.
Among the exhibited instruments were some of exceptional historical and organological value. Notable examples include the Stradivarius 'Chevillard-King of Portugal' cello, which belonged to King D. Luís, historic harpsichords such as those by Joaquim José Antunes or the French one by Pascal Taskin, and the piano used by the composer Franz Liszt in Portugal.
The collection also highlights instruments of Portuguese manufacture, such as 18th-century clavichords or Haupt family flutes, and curious pieces like pocket violins or cane flutes.
In addition to the instruments, the museum preserves a significant set of documentary and iconographic materials. These include scores, concert programs, librettos, correspondence from personalities connected to music, and other documents relevant to musical history.
The iconographic component is varied, featuring paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, and engravings. Many of these works portray important figures from the world of music or scenes related to musical practice, enriching the understanding of the context in which the instruments were used.
The idea of creating an instrumental museum in Portugal dates back to the early 20th century. The formation of the current collection resulted from the efforts of musicologists and collectors, integrating important private collections such as those of Alfredo Keil and Michel’angelo Lambertini.
Over the decades, the collection moved through various spaces until finding its home, albeit temporary, at the Alto dos Moinhos metro station in 1994. This long history reflects the importance attributed to the safeguarding and dissemination of Portuguese musical heritage.
Even with the temporary closure of the physical space in Lisbon, it is possible to access a part of the collection and learn more about the National Music Museum. Online platforms and digital resources allow for virtual exploration of some of the instruments, documents, and works of art that are part of this notable collection.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.7497981,-9.1799422
Coordinates DMS: 38°44'59.3"N 09°10'47.8"W
Weather Lisboa
On-duty Pharmacy Lisboa
