Príncipe Real
Príncipe Real is a historic, charming and cosmopolitan neighbourhood of Lisbon, its landscape defined by the Praça do Príncipe Real and Praça das Flores, by gardens, shops and 18th and 19th-century palaces. Príncipe Real sits directly beside Bairro Alto and is just a few minutes from Avenida da Liberdade and the Chiado neighbourhood. In recent years, fashion and design shops have flourished throughout the neighbourhood, notably along Rua Dom Pedro V. Príncipe Real is only fully understood when one considers the Jardim do Príncipe Real and the Embaixada. The Jardim do Príncipe Real is one of the oldest and most tranquil gardens in the city of Lisbon, with century-old trees, a fountain, garden benches, landscaped areas and one of the capital’s unique and little-known landmarks: the Reservatório da Patriarcal, an underground water reservoir built in 1856 that can be visited today. The Embaixada, located opposite the Jardim do Príncipe Real, is a two-storey commercial gallery with various design, craft, fashion, gastronomy and Portuguese culture shops housed within the Palácio Ribeiro da Cunha, built in the 19th century in Neo-Moorish style. The Príncipe Real neighbourhood is home to some of Lisbon’s oldest and most celebrated nightlife venues, including the Pavilhão Chinês (a bar with Chinese motifs), Foxtrot (a bar with decorative motifs from the first half of the 20th century and Art Nouveau), Trumps (alternative) and Finalmente (alternative). Príncipe Real is a neighbourhood where it is possible to live, do business, visit and enjoy oneself safely.
The Junta de Freguesia of Príncipe Real is the Junta de Freguesia da Misericórdia.
Places to visit in Príncipe Real
1. Jardim do Príncipe Real (Jardim França Borges): a historic garden of the city of Lisbon, located on Praça do Príncipe Real and officially named Jardim França Borges. The Jardim do Príncipe Real is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, owing to the garden designed in the English Romantic style; a cedar tree from Buçaco standing over twenty metres tall; a refreshment kiosk where one can rest and enjoy ginja, juice or tea and eat soups or snacks; and the Reservatório da Patriarcal.
2. Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência: a museum space dedicated to Botany, Zoology, Anthropology, Mineralogy, Geology and Agriculture, located on Rua da Escola Politécnica. The Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência building is Neoclassical in style and was designed by Pierre Joseph Pézerat. The main highlights are the Laboratório e Amphiteatro de Chimica of the Escola Politécnica, one of the only 19th-century teaching and research laboratories still surviving in Europe; the Reserva Visitável de Química where over three thousand objects can be viewed; and the Cloister, which houses the tomb of Fernão Telles de Menezes (1530–1605), photographs, maps, a handwritten letter by Charles Darwin to the Portuguese naturalist Arruda Furtado, and a 17th-century table telescope by Jesse Ramsden; and the Sala da Baleia with specimens of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals from Portugal.
3. Reservatório da Patriarcal: the Museu de Água, located on Praça do Príncipe Real. The Reservatório da Patriarcal was built between 1860 and 1864 under the direction of engineer Louis Charles Mary, with the purpose of supplying water to the lower part of the city of Lisbon. The reservoir is notable for its scale, with thirty-one columns, vaulted ceilings over nine metres high and a water storage capacity of approximately 880 cubic metres. The Reservatório da Patriarcal supplied part of Lisbon between 1864 and the 1940s, and was reopened as the Museu de Água in 1994, integrated into a network of four museum sites: 1 – Aqueduto das Águas Livres; 2 – Reservatório da Mãe d’Água das Amoreiras; 3 – Reservatório da Patriarcal; and 4 – Estação Elevatória a Vapor dos Barbadinhos.
4. Museu Geológico de Portugal: a space where collections of Portuguese rocks, fossils and minerals approximately 600 million years old can be viewed, located on Rua da Academia das Ciências in the former convent of the Order of Jesus. The Museu do Instituto Geológico e Mineiro was inaugurated in 1855 with the aim of assembling the largest collection of fossils in Portugal, with the main points of interest being dinosaur skeletons; plant and invertebrate fossils; a collection of minerals and ores extracted in Portugal; a fossil collection including a crocodile skull approximately 15 million years old found in Chelas, Lisbon, a domestic dog skeleton around 7,600 years old discovered in Muge, in the Ribatejo, and a fossilised tree trunk three million years old found in Leiria; and the Mineralogy and research instruments collection, featuring a microscope made specifically for Sousa Brandão; a petroleum sample collected off the coast of Figueira da Foz; and the First Geological Map of Portugal, dated 1876.
5. Jardim Botânico da Universidade de Ciências: one of the most important gardens in the city of Lisbon, where it is possible to study and learn about Botany. The Jardim Botânico da Universidade de Ciências is located on Rua da Escola Politécnica in the building of the Colégio Jesuíta da Cotovia, where it operated between 1619 and 1759. The Jardim Botânico da Universidade de Ciências was inaugurated in 1873 at the initiative of the Conde de Ficalho (1837–1903) and Andrade Corvo (1824–1890). The main points of interest include cycad species from Brazil, tree and plant species from the age of the dinosaurs, palm trees, fig trees and cacti.
6. Palácio Bramão: an 18th-century palace housing the Universidade Aberta, a higher education institution created to enable adult university study, located on Rua da Escola Politécnica since its inauguration in 1861. The Palácio Bramão served as the residence of the merchant Rebelo de Andrade’s family between 1760 and 1805, then as the building of the Imprensa Nacional, and as the headquarters of the Universidade Aberta since 1988.
7. Museu João de Deus: a space dedicated to the educator João de Deus, located on Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral. The Casa-Museu João de Deus was inaugurated in 1982 with the aim of preserving and promoting the work of João de Deus. The space served as his residence and as a training centre for teachers who collaborated in the Escolas Móveis, created in 1852 with the aim of promoting literacy among the population. The Escolas Móveis were a nationwide success, carrying out a total of 479 literacy missions between 1852 and 1920, reaching over 28,000 people.
8. Pastelaria Cister: a historic pastry shop and café in the city of Lisbon, located on Rua da Escola Politécnica. Pastelaria Cister was the place where Eça de Queiroz took breakfast, a fact reflected in the interior decoration through paintings depicting Portuguese writers and intellectuals. The main highlights are the aforementioned paintings and the gastronomic specialities, notably Açorda de Gambas and Rissóis de Camarão.
9. Embaixada Concept Store: a commercial space with design and fashion shops, gastronomy and crafts. The Embaixada Concept Store is located on Praça do Príncipe Real in the Palácio Ribeiro da Cunha, which was inaugurated in 1879 in Neo-Moorish style under the direction of architect Henrique Carlos Afonso as the residence of José Ribeiro da Cunha (1854–1915).
10. Mercado de Produtos Biológicos: an organic fruit and vegetable market sourcing produce from across the country, held every Saturday between 9 am and 2 pm in the Jardim do Príncipe Real since 2005.
Other places to visit in Príncipe Real
Fundação Casa de Macau: an institution aimed at supporting and developing Macanese communities since its creation in 1996, located on Praça do Príncipe Real. The main attraction is the Documentation Centre specialising in the Far East with approximately four thousand books.
Orpheu Caffé: a space that aims to recreate the intellectual atmosphere of 19th-century Lisbon, offering a view over the Jardim do Príncipe Real. Orpheu Caffé is located on Praça do Príncipe Real, with the main highlights being the Scrambled Eggs, the Prego Estrella and the view over the garden.
Galeria de São Mamede: a space promoting contemporary Portuguese art since its inauguration in the late 1960s by Francisco Pereira Coutinho. The Galeria de São Mamede holds exhibitions by numerous artists, including Areal, Cesariny, Cruzeiro Seixas and Deolinda Fonseca.
Casa dos Tapetes de Arraiolos: a shop selling Arraiolos rugs since 1959 on Rua da Escola Politécnica. Tapetes de Arraiolos are wool-embroidered rugs originating from the village of Arraiolos, produced using the same technique since the 15th century.
Panificação Reunida de São Roque: a bakery operating on Rua Dom Pedro V since 1961, created with the aim of uniting several Bairro Alto bakeries in a single location. The highlights of Panificação Reunida de São Roque are its gastronomy through bread and cakes, and the hosting of events such as the Noites de Literatura Europeia.
Joalharia Antiquário Dom Pedro V: a historic jeweller and antiques dealer in Lisbon, one of the oldest goldsmiths in Príncipe Real, in operation since the 18th century, located on Rua Dom Pedro V.
Casa Amália Rodrigues
Palacete Anjos
Livraria Britanic
Pastelaria São Roque
Praça das Flores
Convento dos Cardeais
Museu Júlio Pomar
Palácio Castilho
Teatro da Politécnica
Main streets and squares in Príncipe Real
Rua Dom Pedro V: Rua Dom Pedro V is the main street of Príncipe Real, known for its antique dealers, design shops and art galleries, connecting Praça do Príncipe Real, Rua da Rosa, Rua Luísa Todi and Rua de São Pedro de Alcântara. Rua Dom Pedro V is one of the busiest streets in the area, always busy with tourists, students and locals owing to the presence of Tram 28, antique dealers, art galleries, bars and restaurants. Rua Dom Pedro V has borne this name since 1853 in honour of King D. Pedro V (1837–1861), a king very popular with the people owing to the inauguration of Hospital Dona Estefânia in 1877, the prohibition of corporal punishment, the abolition of slavery, the creation of the Curso Superior de Letras in 1859, the inauguration of the Observatório Astronómico in 1861, the construction of the railway in 1856, the telegraph in 1855 and the staging of the first Portuguese Industrial Exhibition.
Rua da Escola Politécnica: a street connecting Praça do Príncipe Real and Largo do Rato, it is very busy owing to its attractions, including the palace of the Procuradoria Geral da República, the Galeria de São Mamede, the Largo de São Mamede, the Escola Politécnica, the Casa dos Tapetes de Arraiolos, the Imprensa Nacional and the Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência. Rua da Escola Politécnica acquired this name in 1859 as a tribute to the Escola Politécnica. Other streets connecting to Largo do Rato are:
- Rua do Salitre: Rato → Av. Liberdade
- Largo do Rato → Amoreiras
Praça da Alegria: named as such from 1889, it previously bore several designations, including Praça Alfredo Keil and Praça do Suplício, owing to its having been the site where Isabel Xavier Clesse was hanged on 31 March 1771, sentenced for the crime of attempting to take her husband’s life with a nitric acid enema.
Historic shops in the Príncipe Real neighbourhood
Casa Achilles: the only shop in Lisbon that creates reproductions by mould in copper alloy. The shop is located on Rua de São Marçal.
Pavilhão Chinês: one of the most sought-after historic venues in Príncipe Real for nightlife. The space was inaugurated in 1901 as an antique shop and converted into the current bar in 1986. Pavilhão Chinês is located on Rua Dom Pedro V.
Príncipe Real Enxovais: a historic shop dedicated to selling Portuguese products, including Madeira hand embroidery, bobbin lace from Viana do Castelo, Castelo Branco bedspreads and love handkerchiefs from the Minho. Príncipe Real Enxovais is located on Rua da Escola Politécnica.
Pérola de São Mamede: a traditional Lisbon shop that retains the character of the old grocery stores where Portuguese food products can be purchased, featuring an antique mechanical scale for weighing bulk goods and where everyone knows each other. Pérola de São Mamede is located on Rua Nova de São Mamede.
Transport and access to Príncipe Real
The transport options available in Príncipe Real are:
- Ascensor da Glória: a funicular that carries passengers up a steeply inclined street from Avenida da Liberdade to the entrance of Príncipe Real and Bairro Alto. The Ascensor da Glória is one of several traditional funiculars still in operation in the city of Lisbon. Today these funiculars are very popular with tourists seeking the experience of travelling on a traditional Lisbon vehicle. The sensations are varied, as the journey is accompanied by the sounds of the iron structure running along iron rails, with electric traction supplied to the top of the carriage through cables fixed to street poles.
- Tram 24
- Metro: Rato Station (Yellow Line)
Educational establishments in Príncipe Real
- Escola de Santa Teresa do Menino Jesus
- Instituto Superior de Comunicação Empresarial (ISCEM)
- Universidade Aberta
Healthcare institutions
- Clínica Dentária do Príncipe Real
Car parks in Príncipe Real
- Parque da Rua Politécnica
- Parque da Rua do Salitre
- Parque da Rua de São Bento
- Taxis and buses
Tourist accommodation in Príncipe Real
- Casa do Príncipe
- Hotel Príncipe Real
- Memmo Príncipe Real
- The Vintage House
Shopping in Príncipe Real
- Amélie au Théâtre
- B.S.Mamede
- Casa dos Tapetes de Arraiolos
- Embaixada Concept House
- Espaço B
- J Andrade Antiguidades
- Maison Nuno Gama
- Manuel Castilho Antiguidades
- Moskkito
- Peixaria Centenária
- 21PR Concept Store
- REAL Show Retail Concept
- Solar
- YOYO Objects
Markets, festivals and events in Príncipe Real
- Feira de Produtos Biológicos do Príncipe Real: also known as the Mercado Biológico do Príncipe Real, held weekly every Saturday between 09:00 and 15:00 in the Jardim do Príncipe Real.
- Try Fest: an electronic music and urban art festival held annually in the Picadeiro do Príncipe Real in May.
Location of the Freguesia da Misericórdia (Príncipe Real) on the Lisbon map
