In the heart of the Chiado district of Lisbon, the Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea - Museu do Chiado (MNAC) is a must-visit for those who want to get to know Portuguese artistic production from 1850 to the present day. Founded in 1911 and housed in the charming former Convent of São Francisco da Cidade, the building was renovated after the 1988 fire according to the project of the French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, reopening to the public in 1994.

The permanent collection includes nearly 5,000 works, mainly paintings, but also sculptures, drawings, engravings, photographs, and multimedia installations. Among the most represented Portuguese artists are Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, José de Almada Negreiros, Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, Mário Cesariny, Almada Negreiros, and Nadir Afonso. Emerging international presences include Auguste Rodin and other foreign masters.