National Museum of Coaches

The National Museum of Coaches (Museu Nacioal dos Coches) was actually much more interesting than it sounds! It is a museum of stage coaches and carriages that royalty from all over Europe have used in the past. The museum is said to be the best of its kind in Europe, and the coaches span over 300 years of history. Some of them were quite spectacular in their design, although some of the earlier ones were pretty simple. Included in the pictures are coaches used by King Jose I, King Joao V (both Portuguese) and an Italian coach used for the Pope. These three coaches are all from the 18th century, and the less spectacular one is from the 17th century. The Italian coach was my favorite by far, it's golden sculptures on the front of it are magnificent and beautiful. Maybe they will let Cam and I borrow that one to take us away on our honeymoon! There is also a picture of some of the jousts and shields that were used in jousting events.