The Water Museum of Lisbon

I have to say that this took me a bit to find and I actually had to backtrack to find this museum. It would seem obvious about the aquaduct being hard to miss but with Lisbon's hills and multiple story buildings, I did not see the aquaduct from the street I was on. I seemed to have it in my mind that you could walk along the aquaduct but when I found the entrance to the "museum" this was not the case. I put museum in brackets as I did not find very much information in the building. Paying €5.00 to enter, I wandered slowly around the giant pool of water, glancing at the photos on the wall. They had no information or description so I was not sure what I was looking at.  The large room was pretty cool with the water reflecting the vaulted ceiling. It took about ten minutes or so to walk to the other side where there was a staircase leading upwards.

Climbing upwards, I was thinking this would lead me to the aquaduct and I would get to walk along it. Nope. It just lead to the roof of the building. It did give a nice view over the fountain and  the large pool of water though from the stairs.

The photo below is inside the aquaduct. No water! Guess Lisbon has updated it's plumbing system.

Up the stairs to the roof, I admired the view and wished for the sun to come back. I have mixed feelings on this museum. I liked the building, I liked the water but I didn't like paying €5.00 for something I didn't understand and only took in for less than half an hour. Reading the tripadvisor reviews for the place leaves me with even more mixed feelings with people praising the place. Googling now I think I got the Water Museum and Aqueduto das Águas Livres confused. I had marked the water museum on my map app and thought that would be it and walking there realised it was not. 

I still have a few more days in Lisbon so who knows, I might end up at the Aqueduto das Águas Livres.

Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder

One of my favourite museums that I visited in Amsterdam was Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder or in English, Our Lord in the Attic, a 17th century canal house that has a hidden church built into the top three floors. The Catholic Church was built during the 1660s when Catholics were unable to worship in public so held services in this hidden church. I found the audioguide that was free with admission to be very interesting.

The museum is open seven days a week but I suggest checking their website here to check for hours if you intend to visit. It costs €9.00 for adults but is free with the I amsterdam card if you do end up getting it.

You also get to wear these super fun slippers over your shoes to walk on the straw mats. 

Museum Willet-Holthuysen

On the Tuesday that I visited a lot of attractions in Amsterdam I stopped at the Museum Willet-Holthuysen which is the only fully furnished canalside patrician house in Amsterdam that is open to the public. The museum has a large collection of items from the Dutch Golden Age including silverware, plates and books. It also has a large collection of art.

The house was built for Jacob Hop, mayor of Amsterdam in 1685. In 1739 the outside of the museum was redesigned to look as it does today in Louis XIV style. The last private owner, Mrs. Willet-Holthuysen, bequeathed the entire house to the city of Amsterdam on the condition that it became a museum in 1895.

Three floors are open to the public, the souterrain, with the kitchen and garden, the first floor and the top floor, with one bedroom on display and rooms for exhibitions.

My favourite part of the house was the garden with its large fountain and flowers.

The museum is open Monday to Friday: 10.00 a.m. till 5.00 p.m. Weekends and national holidays: 11.00 a.m. till 5.00 p.m. Admission for adults is €8,50 but is free with the I amsterdam card.

Museum Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis

Museum Geelvinck-Hinlopen is a canal-side mansion in Amsterdam that I visited with the I amsterdam card. The house was built for Albert Geelvinck (1647-1693) and Sara Hinlopen (1660-1749). Albert Geelvinck came from an upperclass family, who had gained their wealth through merchant shipping. He married in 1680 to Sara Hinlopen, who came from a family of Flemish cloth merchants.

There are many gardens on the estate, the back garden is in the Renaissance style and the front garden is formal and symmetrical in the French style with a large pond and fountain.

Entering the museum to the main floor there are four rooms open to the public. On my visit I was guided around by one of the lovely women that work at the museum. She gave me a nice tour of the rooms, telling me about their interesting history and decorations.

At the time of my visit the museum was hosting a piano festival and there was some beautiful playing going on as I wandered through the rooms.

The museum is free with the I amsterdam card or €9.00 for adults. It is open everyday except for Tuesday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. 
Closed on Tuesdays