Museu Militar de Lisboa, Military museum in Santa Maria Maior district, Lisbon, Portugal

The Museu Militar de Lisboa is a military museum in the old neighborhood of Santa Maria Maior, displaying cannons, rifles, pistols, swords, and other weapons from different periods. The collection is spread across several rooms inside a large building that sits close to the Tagus riverfront.

The museum began to be organised in 1842 in the Royal Army Arsenal by the Baron of Monte Pedral, to keep and conserve war material. A royal decree of 10 December 1851, under Queen Maria II, renamed the building the Artillery Museum, a name it held until 1926, when it took its current title. Its first director, General José Eduardo Castelbranco, had new rooms decorated by leading artists of the time at the turn of the 20th century. The building was classified as a public-interest property in 1963.

The Pátio dos Canhões displays 26 tile panels made in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, depicting national history from 1139 to 1918. They were created by José Estêvão Cancela, Vítor Pereira, Gustavo Bordalo Pinheiro and Leopoldo Batistini. The first director, General José Eduardo Castelbranco, had new rooms decorated by leading artists of his time.

The museum is within walking distance of the riverfront and close to Santa Apolónia station, making it easy to reach by public transport. A visit usually takes one to two hours, though those who linger over the painted rooms may want to allow more time.

One room is dedicated to Vasco da Gama and shows cannons from his era alongside murals depicting the sea route to India. It is one of the few places where you can see naval weapons and exploration history displayed side by side.