The Royal Palace, or Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, was started to built in 1795 to replace the palace destroyed by the fire in 1755 according to the project of Manuel Caetano de Sousa, but shortly after, with the introduction of the neo –classical style two new arquitects took the project in their hands, Francisco Xavier Fabri and José da Costa e Silva, but its inhabitants were forced into exile in 1807, before construction had completed .Even in its unfinished state, the palace had plenty of space for all kinds of fancy furnishings. The tour passed through room after room of expensive decorations.
In 1968 was partially transformed in a Museum, and was also the headquaters of the culture ministery.