Museu do Dinheiro

Museu do Dinheiro (the Money Museum) in Lisbon is a museum about the history of money, set inside the former Church of São Julião on Praça do Município. The building forms part of the former head office of the Banco de Portugal, the country's central bank. The museum opened to the public in spring 2016.

Where is the museum?

It stands in the heart of Lisbon, on the corner of Praça do Município, close to the river and to the grid of streets rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake. It makes an easy stop on a walk through Baixa and the surrounding area.

What is the history of the building?

The Church of São Julião was badly damaged in the 1755 earthquake. It was reshaped during the redesign of the capital carried out under the Marquis of Pombal. The church was later deconsecrated, and the Banco de Portugal acquired it in the 1930s. After renovation work in the early 21st century the bank re-established its headquarters on the site, and the museum was installed in the former church. Restoration and fit-out ran from 2007 to 2012, to a design by architects Gonçalo Byrne and João Pedro Falcão de Campos.

What can you see inside?

The permanent exhibition is arranged in nine thematic rooms. They present the numismatic collection of the Banco de Portugal along with other objects, supported by multimedia displays. Themes include:

• money before coinage and early forms of exchange,
• money in Portugal and around the world across the centuries,
• how coins and banknotes are made,
• the role of money in everyday life,
• the work of a central bank.

On the ground floor a 12.6 kg gold bar is on display, and visitors are allowed to touch it. It is one of the most popular moments of the visit, especially for children and families. The basement level holds a section of King Dinis' Wall and related exhibits, linking the story of finance to the story of the city itself.

Who is it for?

The museum suits anyone interested in economics, coins or architecture, and it works well for families because much of it is interactive. The contrast between the sacred space of a former church and the subject of banking is part of the appeal. A visit helps explain how payment has changed, from barter to coins to modern banknotes and the role of today's central banks.

Planning your visit

Allow about an hour, or a little longer, to see the nine rooms and the basement at an unhurried pace. Opening hours and entry rules can change, so check the official museum website before you go. The location on Praça do Município makes it simple to combine with other central sights such as Praça do Comércio and the streets of Baixa.

Frequently asked questions

When did the Museu do Dinheiro open? It opened to visitors in spring 2016, after years of renovation and conversion work.

Was the building once a church? Yes. The museum occupies the former Church of São Julião, damaged in the 1755 earthquake and acquired by the Banco de Portugal in the 1930s.

How many rooms does the permanent exhibition have? Nine thematic rooms, from pre-monetary exchange to the tasks of the central bank.

Can you touch the gold? Yes. A 12.6 kg gold bar on the ground floor is meant to be touched.

Who designed the interior conversion? Architects Gonçalo Byrne and João Pedro Falcão de Campos.