Convento de Jesus em Aveiro

Historic Building and Museum in Aveiro

Mosteiro De Jesus Museu De Aveiro
CC BY-SA 3.0 / David Machado

The convent’s current facade, which boasts three doorways with stunning frontons, bearing the royal coat of arms on the central one, dates back to the 18th century. The building has retained several former convent areas, including the atrium that serves as the entrance hall, the 15th century cloister adorned with a collection of Renaissance columns, several Manueline chapels embellished with azulejo tiles, and the Chapter House.

Within the church’s interior, visitors will find a noteworthy main chapel with late-16th century gilded woodwork reminiscent of the fine craftsmanship of a goldsmith. The walls are adorned with azulejo panels and paintings that depict moments from the life of Santa Joana Princesa, the daughter of King D.Afonso V.

In the lower choir of the church, where the faithful once participated in liturgical duties, lies the finely carved tomb of Santa Joana. The tomb features intricate embedded Italian marble of different colours and is surrounded by carved woodwork parietal decoration, azulejo tiles, and marble beneath a polychrome baroque-style ceiling. The installation of the tomb was authorized by Pope Pio II’s papal bull issued in 1461, and it was designed by the Royal architect, Manuel Antunes. Construction of the tomb began in 1699, following a commission by D. Pedro II, but the ashes of the Infanta were only placed inside in 1711.

Museum of Aveiro

The Museum of Aveiro offers a two-part visit circuit that perfectly complements each other: the monumental route and the permanent exhibition.

The ground floor showcases the low choir with the tomb of Princess Saint Joanna, the Church of Jesus, the cloister featuring its chapels, the chapter room, and the refectory. On the upper floor, visitors can explore the cloister leading to the high choir and the nearby devotion chapels. Additionally, the permanent exhibition room houses two remnants of the former convent, namely the Crafts’ Room and the Chapel of Senhor dos Passos.

The museum boasts an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, tapestries, tiles, and jewels. While exploring the museum, visitors can immerse themselves in the peaceful atmosphere of the silent Dominican rooms, stroll through the arcades of the cloister, marvel at the vivid color contrasts of the church altars, and appreciate the grandeur of the solemn stones in the dormitory.

The Convento de Jesus em Aveiro appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Aveiro!

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Visiting Convento de Jesus em Aveiro

Hours:

10am-12.30pm & 1.30-6pm Tue-Sun


Price:

adult/child €5/free

Address: Aveiro Museum, Avenida Santa Joana, Aveiro, Portugal
Duration: 30 minutes

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