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Carmo Convent & Archaeological Museum of Lisbon

Introduction

Carmo Convent (Convento do Carmo) is a part-ruined medieval convent and Archaeological Museum in Lisbon. This convent lies between the Chiado and the Baixa districts of Lisbon close to Largo do Carmo. The full name of this Gothic Church is Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Igreja do Carmo in Portuguese). The Convento da Ordem do Carmo was founded as a convent for the Carmelite Order in 1389 by the Portuguese knight Nuno Álvares Pereira. 

Entrance of the Carmo Convent and Archaeological Church Lisbon
Entrance of the Carmo Convent and Archaeological Church Lisbon
Wooden door of the Carmo Convent
Wooden door of the Carmo Convent
After entering through the main door, one is face to face with the skeleton (remains) of the building
The roof of this convent collapsed during the 1755 Lisbon earthquake
The roof of this convent collapsed during the 1755 Lisbon earthquake
One of the side walls of the Carmo Convent of Lisbon
It is believed that church was packed when the earthquake hit the city

History

During the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, the convent was packed with the worshipers when the earthquake struck on the 1st of November. Almost entire building of this convent collapsed but not only skeleton of walls remains today. Some repair work was carried out in the 1800s but later this space was occupied by the Guarda Real de Polícia (Police Royal Guard). The military kept using this convent till 1831 and then it was rented out to a wood company. The first cavalry squadron was stationed here 1845. In 1864, this building was donated to the Association of Portuguese Archaeologists, which turned the ruined building into a museum.

It is an interesting place to visit to see how the natural forces can change man made structures
It is an interesting place to visit to see how the natural forces can change man made structures
Extra protection provided to this section of the wall
Extra protection provided to this section of the wall
Skeleton of the walls of Carmo Convent and Archaeological Museum of Lisbon
Skeleton of the walls of Carmo Convent and Archaeological Museum of Lisbon
At the end of the structure stand the museum section of the convent
At the end of the structure stand the museum section of the convent

Museum

The ruins of the church are currently being used to exhibit a wide assortment of medieval graves, heraldic crests, statues, stone art and Roman stellai. There are few tombs inside the church, One of them belongs to S. Frei Gil de Santarem from the second half of the 14th century to the first half of the 15th century. Other one belongs to D. Fernando I from the 14th century (1382) and also the tomb of Queen Maria Ana of Austria.

In the archaeological section of the convent, there is a mummy of a young man found in Peru in the 16th century.

In the past, main altar of the church used to exist here
In the past, main altar of the church used to exist here
Capstone of the tomb of S. Frei Gil de Santarem - Carmo Convent and Archaeological Museum Lisbon
This is the tomb of D. Fernando I from the 14th century (1382)
Tomb of Queen Maria Ana of Austria - it is a 18th century tomb and it was reconstructed in 2002
Tomb of Queen Maria Ana of Austria - it is a 18th century tomb and it was reconstructed in 2002
This one appears to be the Hindu gods from the 10th-12th centuries
This one appears to be the Hindu gods from the 10th-12th centuries
A seal set in stone on display inside the museum
A seal set in stone on display inside the museum
Mummy of a young man found in Peru - Carmo Convent and Archaeological Museum Lisbon
Mummy of a young man found in Peru - Carmo Convent and Archaeological Museum Lisbon
This mummy belongs to a young girl also found in Peru in the 16th century
This mummy belongs to a young girl also found in Peru in the 16th century
A side view of the sarcophagus belonging to a mummy
At the bottom of the coffin, feet of the mummy can be seen
At the bottom of the coffin, feet of the mummy can be seen

Few potson display inside the museum have come from the Intermediate Inca or Late Horizonte Inca period (13th-16th century). In one of the displays, a statue of Saint Anthony of Egypt (15th century) is in the middle . There are funerary epigrams around the statue.

Inside the museum, a model of the Carmo Convent shows us how this building would have looked like before the earthquake. 

A reception bowl from the Central America (6th-15th century) - Carmo Convent and Archaeological Museum
A reception bowl from the Central America (6th-15th century) - Carmo Convent and Archaeological Museum
These pots have come from the Intermediate Inca or Late Horizonte Inca period (13th-16th century)
These pots have come from the Intermediate Inca or Late Horizonte Inca period (13th-16th century)
There was no precise date on these pots, they were estimated to be from the 13th to early 16th centuries
There was no precise date on these pots, they were estimated to be from the 13th to early 16th centuries
statue of Saint Anthony of Egypt (15th century) - Carmo Convent and Archaeological Museum Lisbon
statue of Saint Anthony of Egypt (15th century) - Carmo Convent and Archaeological Museum Lisbon
In this photo, to the left is Saint George is fighting a dragon - in the middle is a lamb and to the right is a head, both from the 16th century
To the left is Saint George is fighting a dragon - in the middle is a lamb and to the right is a head, both from the 16th century
A model of the Carmo Convent
A model of the Carmo Convent
Main facade of the convent with the supporting arches to the right
Main facade of the convent with the supporting arches to the right
Looking back at the tall walls supporting the empty skeleton of the church
Looking back at the tall walls supporting the empty skeleton of the church
Just inside the main door of the church, I saw this cat chilling out
Just inside the main door of the church, I saw this cat chilling out