Museu Calouste Gulbenkian

Museu Calouste Gulbenkian’s heroic collection of Eastern and Western art is nearly incomparable in Europe. Hidden away in a complex inside leafy Gulbenkian Park, the museum is a chronological treasure trove of epic art that spans ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Qing dynasty, and the Roman Empire, among others. In August, the institution throws Lisbon’s premier jazz concert series, Jazz em Agosto—meaning that once you’ve had your fill of Egyptian mummy masks, fascinating Roman gold medallions, and René Lalique’s unearthly dragonfly brooch, you can chill on the expansive lawn for a little live music.

This center of arts and culture features a music season with Gulbenkian Orchestra and Choir; permanent exhibitions of the collections of Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and Modern Art Centre; and conferences, symposia, and temporary exhibitions. The Modern Art Centre has paintings from Portuguese artists like Almada Negreiros and Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso. The main building houses the fine art collection of ancient art, Egyptian, Eastern art, European painting, and jewelry. Let’s not forget the garden, fresh and inviting. Take a blanket and lie down near the lake, or take a stroll and check out the sculptures that sit between paths and lawns. Also, an outdoor amphitheater features many summer events.

The Gulbenkian complex encompasses a modern art center with a focus on 20th-century Portuguese artists, a museum with a fine collection of ancient art, an outdoor amphitheater for summer events, and a garden designed by the renowned Portuguese landscape architect Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles. Wander through the sculpture-studded grounds; a good spot to relax is on the lawn beside the lake.