Lisbon - Thank You, Oil Tycoon! 🎨💰

Two days in Lisbon, and half a day was devoted to the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum. This world-renowned art collector, who passed away in 1955, donated most of his fortune and collection to Portugal, establishing the namesake foundation. Unlike the grand narratives of other global museums, this place feels like a time machine—spanning from ancient Egypt to the 20th century. It’s where millennia of art dialogue with an oil magnate’s personal taste. 🕰️✨ The most unforgettable? The final stop: the René Lalique gallery. This French Art Nouveau jeweler went wild with gold, gemstones, amber, horn, ivory, enamel, and glass. His signature themes? Feminine forms and nature—think his iconic dragonfly women. Thanks to Gulbenkian and Lalique’s 50+ year friendship, this is the place to see Lalique’s masterpieces. 🦋💎 But wait—the 12-acre garden steals the show too! From the museum’s floor-to-ceiling windows, the landscape peeks through like a framed painting. A classic Portuguese garden with subtle geometry, Mediterranean light, and tree canopies that evoke the serenity of Eastern gardens. 🌿☀️ On the lawn: picnickers, mallards, art students sketching, and dads playing with toddlers on gravel paths. A true public oasis. 🦆👨‍👧 #Wanderlust #Portugal #Lisbon #GulbenkianMuseum #UrbanOasis #ArtAndNature