CARMO ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Description

Essentials about the Carmo Archaeological Museum in brief

For those interested in archaeology, a visit to the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo (Carmo Archaeological Museum) is definitely recommended. Housed in the ruins of the former Carmo Convent church, the museum is the second important archaeological museum in the Portuguese capital, alongside the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia (National Archaeology Museum).

The history of the Carmo Archaeological Museum

The church was built as part of a monastery between 1389 and 1423. In 1755, the Carmo Convent was destroyed by the Great Lisbon Earthquake. The renovation commissioned by Queen Mary was not completed. Therefore, in 1864, the ruins were given to the Royal Association of Architects and Archaeologists, which established a museum here. At first, only finds that came from the monastery were exhibited. Soon antiquities from former church property, which had come into the possession of the Portuguese crown after the secularization of 1834, were added.

The exhibition of the Carmo Archaeological Museum

A visit to the permanent exhibition requires a little cooperation of the museum visitors. Indeed, the exhibits of the permanent exhibition are not labeled and have to be visited on the basis of photocopies. Since 2002, a prehistoric section has also been established. The exhibits are displayed in the ruins of the open nave in the apse and in the side rooms.

In the apse there are mainly sarcophagi of Portuguese origin from the 12th to the 18th century, such as the magnificent coffin of an archbishop of Lisbon and that of King Fernando I. Also worth seeing is the bust of King Afonso Henrique from the 12th century. In a side apse are finds from Roman and Islamic times, such as mosaics, tombstones and statues. A Roman sarcophagus with finely carved figures is noteworthy. The former library houses the pre-Columbian and Egyptian sections. Shrunken heads and mummies can be seen here. On the walls are azulejo paintings from the 18th century.