The Polyptychof theJanelas Verdes
A unique masterpiece. A sublime testimony to the soul and history of Portugal.
Opening
10 June 2026
17H00
The inaugural afternoon
Full house · Sold out
On Portugal Day, Espaço Quinto Império opened «The Polyptych of the Janelas Verdes» before a sold-out hall. Relive the moments of the inauguration.
The Polyptych of the Janelas Verdes
The Emperor of the Last Days and the End of History
It is the purpose of this exhibition to reappraise one of the most fascinating and contentious subjects in the nation's history and culture, from the moment of its rescue from oblivion, at the hand of Monsignor Alfredo Elviro dos Santos, in the Patriarchal Palace of São Vicente de Fora, in the year 1882.
Presentation
17H00
Inauguration
17H30
Cocktail
18H30
Musical Triptych
Sound Architecture by Vasco Lima
Composer-musician, researcher in the science of sound
A museum-quality sound experience conceived for the Exhibition of «The Polyptych of the Janelas Verdes». A subtle cinematic soundscape — a modern approach that helps transport the visitor into the spiritual and ceremonial atmosphere of the panels' era, yet with a contemporary sensibility.
Light of the Invisible Empire
Evokes the luminous Portugal of the sixteenth century, guided by a spiritual and mysterious force bound to expansion, faith and the Templar heritage.
The Navigators of the Sacred Fire
A maritime epic in sound, with a divine mission and a Templar heritage.
Portugal, Kingdom of the Last Light
Portugal and the Portuguese language as the Portal to the Quinto Império.
A Sound Architecture
Voice of Absence
How does the tenuous line between land and sea resound? Between the cold stone of the monastery and the unknown horizon of 1500?
This production is an immersive landscape designed for the art installation «The Polyptych». It is not merely music; it is a three-dimensional space where the echo of cathedrals meets the murmur of the Atlantic and the presence of the invisible Divine Holy Spirit.
- The immensity and the reverb of an empty nave of stone.
- The melancholy hooks of a Gregorian choir in the distance.
- The faint creak of the caravels and bells tolling in the mist.
- The instrumental lament of a Portuguese guitar that echoes our eternal saudade as a mission.
A profound sensory voyage, purely instrumental, binding spirituality to the call of Saudade.
Listen
Sacred Sea
The Return of Saudade
Withered Tree
Sound Architecture
- Cathedral reverberations
- Distant bells
- Discreet maritime sounds (Portugal of the Discoveries)
- Distant Gregorian sounds
- Sounds of the presence of the Holy Spirit
- Profoundly Portuguese sounds
A blend of Renaissance polyphony, monastic ambience and a discreet contemporary sound texture. According to the author, a cycle of soundscapes was built with certain musical elements of the fifteenth century deconstructed.
A reunion with the essence of a creative force
The Quinto Império is a centre of culture, thought and civilisation devoted to the living recovery of transcendental memory — not as a mere recollection of what once happened, but as a reunion with the profound essence of a force that, across time, has united peoples, cultures and visions of the world.
Memory is an invisible bond between generations. It traverses space and time. Within it endure the symbols, the values and the vibration of a collective action that continues to inspire the present. To remember is to recognise a spiritual and civilisational continuity that still lives within us.
“Only the present gathers the true force of creation. It is in the now that memory acquires meaning, that the dream takes form, and that culture is transformed into active consciousness.”
Conceived as a hub of cultural and humanist elevation, the Quinto Império fosters intellectual and aesthetic experiences of high academic rigour, symbolic depth and contemporary relevance — a place for the formation of the spirit, for ethical renewal, and for dialogue between tradition and future.
A place of excellence intellectual and aesthetic
In the heart of Lisbon, the Espaço Quinto Império brings together every condition needed to host art, thought and conviviality. A welcoming and functional setting, conceived to offer comfort, fine acoustics and a memorable experience.
Art Gallery
Exhibitions and temporary displays.
Auditorium
Conferences, lectures and book launches.
Cocktail Area
Receptions and moments of conviviality.
Podcast Studio
Audiovisual content production.
Lounge
Reading and meeting area.
Library
Reference and research collection.
An auditorium for the word and the idea
A small, fully equipped auditorium, with every condition for conferences, debates, lectures and book launches. Comfort, fine acoustics and a memorable experience for participants and guests.
Events that have already taken place
Conferences, gatherings and lectures held at Espaço Quinto Império.
Come and visit us
Espaço Quinto Império lies in the heart of the city of Lisbon. For group visits to the exhibition, please use the bookings page.
Espaço Quinto ImpérioRua António Pedro nº 8
1150-045 Lisboa