Where Tradition Again Comes to Life

The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, as an institution, was created in 1979 with the aim of promoting the teaching, practice and dissemination of the traditional Portuguese Equestrian Art.

It is the sequence of the Picaria Real, equestrian academy of the Portuguese court, established at Picadeiro Real de Belém, currently known as the National Coach Museum.

Due to the never interrupted practice of equestrian bullfighting, the same type of horse used in the 18th century has been preserved until today, as well as the same riding, the same harness and the same costumes. The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art also recovers the Baroque horseback riding exercises, such as the “airs above the ground”.

The horses used at the School are Lusitanians from the Alter Real Stud Farm, founded in 1748 by D. João V to provide the royal house and its equestrian academy.

The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art holds regular presentations open to the public in Belém, and shows both in Portugal and abroad, constituting an important means of disseminating the Lusitano horse and Portuguese culture.

Horses of the Kingdom

Built during the reign of D. João V, the Palace and Gardens of Queluz constitute a patrimonial unity whose golden period was the 17th century, during the reign of D. Pedro III and D. Maria I. Known by the sophisticated social events, the Palace and the Gardens of Queluz received the court on a refined and beautiful environment, reflex of the French and Italian influences of the time.

The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art is based at the gardens of the Palace, created to promote the teaching, practice and promotion of the Portuguese traditional Equestrian Art. Parques de Sintra installed, in 2015, at the National Palace of Queluz, the only national library dedicated exclusively to the equestrian art. The D. Diogo de Bragança equestrian art library, the 8th Marialva Marquis, has 1,400 titles, some of them rare copies.

This is a guided tour by the Master Chief Rider of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, which takes the visitor through the discovery of the history of the School, sharing curiosities and episodes that marked the Portuguese Royal Picaria through centuries. Visiting the gardens of the National Palace of Queluz, where the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art has its headquarters, this tour remember the environment lived at the 18th century of the Portuguese court, showing the Queen D. Amélia stables, the costumes and saddles used by the riders and horses of the School, the practice arenas and some of the most important places of the gardens, where the public will meet both horses and riders, with whom they might interact.

The itinerary ends at the D. Diogo de Bragança library, one of the few equestrian libraries of Europe and the only one national, where the history of the Royal Picaria and the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art is documented.

Reliving History

Mornings of Equestrian Art in Belém

From Monday to Saturday, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., at the Picadeiro Henrique Calado and at the Nora Páteo, come relive this history through an interpretative path, and simultaneously the public can observe the practices and warm up exercises done by the riders traditionally dressed, who respecting the rhythm, health and physical needs of each horse, insure the proper instruction of the horse for the higher level of the galas and shows of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art.

Gala's

The monthly Galas of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art recreate the environment lived on the 18th Century and beginnings of the 19th Century court.
The Galas are usually presented with music of the baroque period, pre and classic periods and evoke an exquisite and engaging environment which leads the public to the time of the Picaria Real, to observe various equestrian exercises and choreographies such as the Airs Above Ground and the Court Games.

The School

Gallery

Location

By Bus

Lisbon > Belém
By bus: nº 728, 714, 727, 729, 751

By Tram

Lisbon > Belem
By tram: 15

By Train

Lisbon > Belem
By train:
- Cascais Line (Belém station)
- Sintra line (departure at Queluz-Belas station or Monte Abraão, distance from the Palace about 1 kilometer)
Origin stations:
• Oriente Station
• Rossio Station
• Entrecampos Station

Car

Address:
• IC19: Lisbon-Sintra, Queluz-Palácio exit;
- GPS coordinates: 38º 45' 1.46" N 9º 15' 28.40" W
This is 15 minutes from the center of Lisbon.