Portugal Visitor Guide

Sociedade De Geografia De Lisboa (Geographical Society of Lisbon)

The pedestrianized Ruas das Portas de Santo Antão in the Baixa district of Lisbon is an interesting street. The thoroughfare is home to the luxury, five-star hotel, One Palácio da Anunciada, the Teatro Politeama and the Casa do Alentejo restaurant. The Sociedade De Geografia De Lisboa (Lisbon Geographic Society) is across the street from the Teatro Politeama.

Entrance

History

The Sociedade De Geografia De Lisboa (Geographical Society of Lisbon) was founded in 1875. This was a time when Portuguese overseas interests included territories in Africa, South America, and the Far East. The society's establishment was especially driven by the age of western exploration and colonization in Africa.

The ethnographical museum here is a real treasure. There are exhibits from all over Portugal's once vast colonial empire. These include African masks, ceramics, glass pieces, inlaid furniture from Goa and Macau, items of clothing and fabrics, statues of Indian gods and goddesses and tribal weapons and other items from Angola, Benim, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and Mozambique.

Also on display are scientific instruments and globes made in the west as well as western paintings featuring the earlier Age of Discovery.

Building exterior

Library

The Society maintains a vast library of 66,000 titles in about 200,000 volumes, numerous magazines and about 6,000 documents in manuscript form. Part of the library is in digital format. It is visited by researchers and scholars from all over the world.

The museum also contains a cafe/bar and a museum shop selling books and other publications.

Access - Getting There

Rua das Portas de Santo Antão, 100
1150-269 Lisboa, Portugal
Tel: 213 425 401
www: socgeografialisboa.pt

Hours: Monday to Friday: 10 am - 12.45 pm and 2 pm - 4.45 pm.

Admission: small fee.

The Aerobus from Lisbon Airport stops on nearby Avenida da Liberdade. The nearest Lisbon metro stations to the museum are Restauradores on the Blue Line (Linha Azul), just 3 minutes away and Avenida.

© Portugal Visitor