About this place
Casa Ásia – Francisco Capelo Collection is an Asian art museum in Lisbon, housed in a palace in the Bairro Alto district. Its holdings include roughly 1,300 objects from fourteen Asian countries, a journey from India to East Timor without leaving the city.
What is Casa Ásia?
The museum opened in 2017, after the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa received the Asian art collection of collector Francisco Capelo. The collection came to the institution through donation, acquisition and deposit. It is installed in the Portugal da Gama Palace, also known as the São Roque Palace, in Bairro Alto, one of Lisbon's most characterful neighbourhoods.
What can you see here?
The collection is geographically broad. It holds works from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, East Timor and the Philippines. The oldest pieces date to the 3rd century BC and the most recent to the 20th century, so visitors follow more than two millennia of art and culture.
Objects were acquired on the basis of rarity and artistic quality. As a result, the collection is described as comparable to those shown in major international museums.
Who is the collector?
Francisco Capelo built the collection by trusting his own eye and instinct, aiming for something both beautiful and representative. His interests were not limited to Asia: he also collected modern and contemporary art, design and fashion. His Asian holdings range from China and Japan to India and Timor, and include the cultures of Southeast Asia.
Who is it for?
The museum suits anyone curious about Asian cultures, and visitors who want a quieter, more intimate stop while exploring Bairro Alto. Thematic visits are offered to help make sense of such a wide collection. Check current opening hours and ticket prices on the museum's official website before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Casa Ásia? In Lisbon's Bairro Alto district, in the Portugal da Gama (São Roque) Palace.
How many objects are in the collection? About 1,300, from fourteen Asian countries.
What periods do the exhibits cover? From the 3rd century BC to the 20th century.
Who assembled the collection? Francisco Capelo. It passed to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa in 2017.
Is it worth a visit on a short trip to Lisbon? If Asian art interests you, yes. It is one of the few collections of this scope in the city, and its central location makes it easy to combine with other Bairro Alto sights.
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