Museu Arqueológico do Carmo

》Museu Arqueológico do Carmo (Carmo Archaeological Museum)

The distinctively modern buildings in the Baixa Pombalina area are considered to be some of the first seismically sound constructions in the world. The Carmo convent which had stood in the center of Lisbon since 1389 was intentionally left roofless as a reminder of the disaster. The property now houses the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo, or Carmo Archaeological Museum, a small archaeological museum dedicated to Portuguese history.

The museum exhibits pieces related to the history of Lisbon, from pre-historic times through to the Middle Ages and features an impressive collection of medieval religious and heraldic items.

The sacristy’s small archaeological museum presents an eclectic collection that was donated by archaeologists in the 19th century. Among the treasures from Portugal and elsewhere are the Roman “Sarcophagus of the Muses,” the Gothic tomb of King Ferdinand I, the Baroque tomb of Queen Maria Anna of Austria (queen of Portugal from 1742 to 1750), an Egyptian mummy, and eerie South American mummies (a young boy and a young girl from Peru).

A stone engraved with gothic lettering can be seen by the entrance, informing visitors that Pope Clement VII granted 40 days of indulgence to "any faithful Christian" who visits this church.

The church was the burial site of Christopher Columbus’ wife, Filipa Perestrelo, a native of the Portuguese island of Porto Santo, who the explorer married in Lisbon’s Igreja de Santiago. It’s believed that she was buried in the first chapel to the right, but there’s no tomb or inscription attesting that.Read more