Tours to the Roman Galleries

In April, the Museum of Lisbon will open the Roman Galleries of Rua da Prata.

For four days, the Museum team will guide the visitors through the most enigmatic monument in downtown Lisbon, one of the most exclusive cultural experiences in Lisbon. 

And to explore some of the main places where the Roman heritage of the city is still visible, the Museum of Lisbon also suggests two walking tours that include and complement the visit to the Roman Galleries.

Discovered under the streets of downtown Lisbon (Baixa Pombalina) in 1771 following the earthquake of 1755, this Roman structure is what is known as a "cryptoporticus", an architectural solution that created a horizontal support platform in an area where slope stability was an issue, thus allowing the construction of buildings of great dimensions, usually public buildings.

In the early 20th century, these galleries were known as "Conservas de Água da Rua da Prata" [Rua (Street) da Prata Water Preserves] due to being used as a cistern by the local populace. When the monument is closed, the water table is more than one metre deep, coming from an aquifer running beneath the city. It is thus necessary to pump the water out and clean the space to provide safe access to the interior of the monument.

 

Please arrive to the meeting point 15 minutes before the time and present your ticket to the staff.
This visit is not recommended for people with reduced mobility.
The Roman Galleries can only be visited in group tours that last between 20 and 25 minutes. 
Visitors should wear waterproof shoes and comfortable clothing.