Belem Cultural Center, Lisbon

Portugal's largest building with facilities for events and cultural purposes, the Belém Cultural Center was originally built to accommodate the EU's offices when the country assumed presidency in 1992. Designed by Italian architect Vittorio Gregotti and Portuguese architect Manuel Salgado, it won the International Stone Architecture Award at the Verona Fair in 1993.

With a built-up space of 97,000 sq m, the BCC is light, spacious and very airy, making many other major art galleries seem cramped and a bit confined in comparison. An impressive collection of modern and contemporary art from the 1960s to the present, rich with art pieces (including by the likes of Picasso and Warhol) is further enhanced by frequent visiting exhibitions and live outdoor shows or indoor concerts – albeit the sheer aesthetic treat of the interior is wonderful in itself.

The lines of the building are fantastic, and even the exterior – including walkways and gardens overlooking the waterfront – are worthy of praise. One of the gardens has grass "waves" where you can sit on beanbags under the olive trees and admire the marvelous views of the river, the '25 de Abril' bridge (built by the same designer as the Golden Gate in San Francisco) and the Christo Rei statue; the other garden has a great Henry Moore sculpture that just seems to fit. There's also a bar and a restaurant, or you can go to the small café near the gift shop to enjoy some excellent rolls and pastries.

Tip:
Check the schedule if you want to join a workshop or go to an evening-time concert here. Also, visit on a Saturday to benefit from free admission to the Berardo Collection Museum, the "Most Visited Museum in Portugal" (April 2019).

Opening Hours:
[BCC] Mon-Fri: 8am–8pm; Sat, Sun, Holidays: 10am–6pm
[Berardo Museum] Daily: 10am–7pm (last entry: 6:30pm)