Art in Portugal reflects the history of the country, its development and traditions. You can get to know about Portuguese art if you visit famous art museums and galleries. In case you are going to travel Portugal and you want both to visit the best places in Portugal and find out more about art in Portugal, we suggest that you go to Museu Calouste Gulbenkian. This is a museum of decorative art in Lisbon. This museum was the last wish of Calouste Gulbenkian, he wanted this museum to display art collection which is nowadays related to Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Collections which are exhibited in Calouste Gulbenkian museum include ancient and some kinds of modern art. There is a division into two areas in museum. Collections are divided into two groups; the first group displays Oriental and Classical art in examples of Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Middle Eastern Islamic and Greco-Roman art. The second group reflects European art (paintings, sculptures, manuscript books, samples of decorative arts).

The next art museum we suggest that you certainly visit if you travel Portugal is National Museum Soares dos Reis which is situated in Porto. This museum was named after Antonio Soares dos Reis. He is one of the most prominent Portuguese sculptors and his collections are displayed in this museum.

There is one more very important Portuguese art museum named after famous sculptor Joaquim Machado de Castro. It's situated in Coimbra in a building which was the Palace of the Bishops many years ago. In this museum famous sculptures of Joaquim Machado de Castro are displayed.

In case you travel Portugal you should know that music is very important for Portuguese sort of art. Portugal is well-know all over the world due to its fado music. Fado in Portuguese language means fate. Fado appeared in urban territories and such songs are always sad, singers touch upon the problems of loneliness and poverty. The legend says that many years ago women cried and sang sad songs when their husbands went to the seas which were not sailed before.

Speaking about music art in Portugal it's necessary to say about ska and reggae music, which was originated in Portugal. Today reggae and ska are very popular among young people in Portugal and all over the world. So if you're fond of reggae or ska music, do travel Portugal and see the homeland of this unusual and fascinating music.

Any additional information on art in Portugal will broaden your outlook and prove useful to you. Find out more by reading our articles about architecture of Portugal, history of Portugal and other subjects we have written related to it.