Set on the River Tejo’s edge near Belém, the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) deals with contemporary art.
The modern building was designed by the British architect Amanda Levete. There’s an exhibition space underneath the undulating pedestrian roof from where visitors can enjoy panoramic views.
Actually, there are four exhibition spaces inside: Oval Room, Main Gallery, Video Room and Project Room, all heavily based on video installations.
Next door, the iconic Tejo Power Station is one of Portugal’s most prominent examples of industrial architecture from the beginning of the twentieth century.
In the basement of the old Power Station, there’s another museum that is worth a visit. It tells the history of the plant through furnaces, boilers and electrical generating equipment, as well audio visual and interactive presentations.
In addition to the two museums, the outdoor park, conceived by the landscape architect Vladimir Djurovik, offers a leisure space. The area is beautiful, offering views of Ponte 25 de Abril, the suspension bridge, and across the River Tejo. You can walk and take photos. Residents commonly run through this flat area of the city.
Av. Brasília, Central Tejo, www.maat.pt
