The Exhibition ‘Equestrian Art in Portugal – From the Picaria Real to the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art’ at the National Coach Museum

The exhibition ‘Equestrian Art in Portugal – From the Picaria Real to the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art’ opens on 13 March at 6pm at the National Coach Museum in Lisbon.

The opening ceremony will be attended by João Moura, Secretary of State for Agriculture, Alexandre Nobre Pais, chairman of the board of directors of Museus e Monumentos de Portugal, and Sofia Cruz, chairman of the board of directors of Parques de Sintra.

The exhibition is the first initiative, and an invitation, to explore this Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, following its recognition by UNESCO on 3 December 2024.

Equestrian Art in Portugal is a cultural tradition that symbolises the perfect harmony between horse and rider. This exhibition invites you on a journey through time, revealing the origins of this art through the collections of the National Coach Museum, the National Palaces of Queluz and Pena, the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, the D. Diogo de Bragança Equestrian Art Library, and some private collectors. It also explores the connection to the former Royal Riding Arena in Belém, where Queen Amélia founded the Royal Coach Museum 120 years ago.

The Museum's cultural artefacts include the figure of the stagecoach driver, lances, shields and various cavalry accessories used in equestrian games to demonstrate the skill of the riders, as well as pieces that belonged to the 4th Marquis of Marialva.

Open to the public between 14 March and 14 September this year, the exhibition is promoted by Museus e Monumentos de Portugal and Parques de Sintra. It is curated by the National Coach Museum and the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, with RTP as the Media Partner, contributing to the exhibition with a compilation of excerpts from the Portuguese Equestrian Art Collection of the RTP Archives.