Museu Nacional do Traje

Lisbon. The idea of a Portuguese costume museum was suggested in 1974, after an important costume exhibition. The museum opened in 1977 in the Angeja-Palmela palace, in Lisbon’s botanical gardens. The basis of the collection was around 7,000 pieces from the wardrobes of Portugal’s faded royal dynasty, and has grown thanks to many donations. For the most part, womenswear is represented. There are also significant collections of Court clothing and folk dress. A large gallery is given over to textile technology. The displays are changed every two years. A specialist library is open to the public.