Carmo Convent (Carmo Archaeological Museum)
Largo do Carmo, Chiado, Lisbon
Built sometime in the late 14th century, the Carmo Convent (Carmo Archaeological Museum) withstood many battles yet came crashing down during the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755. It was the city’s largest church at the time and now serves as a reminder of the quake. Today, the main altar hosts an archaeological museum beside the old convent ruins.
As one of Lisbon’s oldest and most historic buildings, the Carmo Convent is a powerful reminder of the worst day in Lisbon’s history as well as a spectacular monument to Gothic architecture. The Carmo Archaeological Museum (Museu Arqueológico do Carmo), dedicated to Portuguese history, stands in what used to be the main altar of the church.
A number of city walking and Segway tours—some including lunch or a wine tasting—pass by the church and discuss its architecture, the impact of the Great Earthquake, and more. Many walking tours also explore Lisbon’s old districts of Baixa, Chiado, Alfama, and Mouraria, detailing Lisbon’s rich history along the way.
Carmo Convent (Carmo Archaeological Museum)is ideal for history and architecture buffs.
Holders of the Lisboa Card receive reduced admission.
The convent and museum provide free Wi-Fi for visitors.
All areas of the museum and the plaza in front of the convent are accessible to wheelchair users.
The Carmo Convent (Carmo Archaeological Museum) is in Lisbon’s Chiado district, accessible by the Santa Justa Lift (Elevador de Santa Justa). You can also take the blue or green metro line to the Baixa-Chiado station.
You can see the Carmo Convent (Carmo Archaeological Museum) ruins at any time of day and from many points in the city. The archaeological museum is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm from October to May, and until 7pm from June to September. It is closed on January 1, May 1, and December 25.
November 1, 1755, is a date that Lisboetas know all too well. The morning of this All Saint’s Day brought near-complete destruction to the city. A magnitude 9 earthquake, tsunamis, and countless fires decimated 85 percent of Lisbon. The Carmo Convent, which once housed 5,000 books, was mostly destroyed.
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