Lisbon’s much sought-after Roman Galleries will open to the public again this spring. The possibility of visiting is scheduled for the 18th and 19th (between 3pm and 6.30pm) and the 20th and 21st of April (between 9.30am and 6.30pm), from Thursday to Sunday. Tickets cost 3 euros (until 2019, they were free), but they usually sell out within a few hours, so if you’re interested in exploring the underground of downtown Lisbon, you should hurry up. Three more warnings: there are no reservations, children under six years of age are not permitted and must bring waterproof footwear.
The meeting point is at the intersection between Rua dos Correeiros and Rua da Conceição ecEach group visit lasts 20 to 25 minutes, being guided by the educational service of the Lisbon Museum, which manages this space in the city.
The Roman Galleries were discovered in 1771, in the post-earthquake period, and functioned as “a horizontal platform to support the construction of large buildings, usually public”. Nowadays, the galleries are normally submerged in waters coming from groundwater, reaching more than one meter in height. Before opening for visitors, it is therefore necessary to remove all water from the galleries, through “a pumping operation”.
As usual, the next opening is scheduled for September, around the time of the European Heritage Days.
Rua dos Correeiros (Baixa) 18-19 Apr. 15.00-18.30; 20-21 Apr. 9.30-18.30. €3.
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