Equestrian Art in Portugal: The Grand Procession and Gentil

At the Museum, The Grand Procession will evoke the reign of King João V and the magnificent public festivities of his time — spectacular occasions marked by pageantry, music, sumptuous carriages and richly caparisoned horses. This activity invites participants to step back in time and discover the fascinating world of some of the most impressive royal processions in Portuguese history. After exploring the stories associated with the Museum and its collections, families will take part in a creative workshop, designing, cutting out and assembling their own royal procession in paper. Imagination will be at the heart of this miniature journey into the splendour of the Portuguese court. At the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, the programme takes as its starting point Gentil, the Lusitano horse depicted in the equestrian statue of King José I in Lisbon’s Terreiro do Paço. Through an educational approach, the programme explores the main characteristics and stages in the development of horsemanship and equestrian art in Portugal, complemented by demonstrations illustrating an exceptional equestrian heritage. Before meeting Gentil, visitors will have access to the Páteo da Nora, where they will be given a glimpse behind the scenes of the School’s daily work. Here, they will see the care provided to the horses by the grooms and watch the riders carry out warm-up exercises with their horses.