Convento do Carmo Lisbon, Portugal

Overview

The partially ruined Convento do Carmo (Carmelite Convent) was once Lisbon's largest convent, but it was severely damaged in the 1755 earthquake. Today open-air summer orchestral concerts are held beneath its majestic archways.

History

Lisbon's Carmelite convent was founded in 1389 by the knight Nuno Álvares Pereira, the Constable of Portugal (supreme military commander after the king). Carmelites from Moura in southern Portugal entered the convent in 1392. In 1404, the pious founding knight donated his wealth to the convent and, in 1423, he also became a brother of the convent.

The Convento do Carmo was severely damaged in the great earthquake of 1755, which killed many worshippers inside at the time. It suffered further damage from vandalism by Napoleonic troops. Unlike other buildings in the area, the church was never rebuilt, but its skeleton has remained mostly intact for 250 years.

Description

Today, the convent is an evocative ruin and part of the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo. Its ruined Gothic nave, with roof arches open to the sky, stands as a silent reminder of the devastating 1755 earthquake. A small collection of artifacts is displayed in the convent's sacristy, including ceramic tiles, medieval tombs, ancient coins, and other local finds.