Palácio da Calheta

The Palácio da Calheta, in Lisbon's Belém district, is a historic estate built in the 17th century and now designated a national monument. Originally owned by the Counts of Calheta, the building served as the seat of government offices and a military archive during the reign of King José. Its understated 17th- and 18th-century architecture consists of two irregular wings, with a distinctive south side that opens onto the garden and features a loggia with iron balconies. Today the palace houses the Tropical Agriculture Museum, which grew out of the former Colonial Museum. Here you'll experience a place that reflects its varied history, from noble residence to institutional use.