The Convent and Church of Jesus are true landmarks in Portuguese architectural history, marking the beginning of the Manueline style.
The project was born at the end of the XNUMXth century, when Justa Rodrigues Pereira – nanny of D. Manuel I – made efforts with the Vatican and the royal court to build a convent.
The works, which began in 1490 and apparently ended in 1496, were carried out by Diogo Boitaca who signed works on monuments such as the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower and the Batalha Monastery.
The Church of Jesus is considered to be the first trial in Portugal of a hall church, designed as a homogeneously lit space. At the Convento de Jesus, innovative solutions were used for the time, such as round arches, vaults resting on lowered arches and nets of ribs.
In 1888, with the extinction of the religious orders, the building was converted into the Hospital da Misericórdia, which operated there until 1959.
The Church of Jesus, as well as the cloister and the Chapter House of the Convent, have been classified as national monuments since 1910 and 1933.
The Setúbal Museum has been operating in the Convent of Jesus since 1961.
The main artistic treasures of the city belong to the collection of the Museum of Setúbal/Convento de Jesus. Among these treasures are the 14 panels of the Altarpiece of the Church of Jesus, known as “Primitivos de Setúbal” and on display at the Municipal Gallery of Banco de Portugal. The altarpiece is considered by experts as one of the most representative sets of the Portuguese Renaissance period.
The Church of Jesus, as well as the cloister and the Chapter House of the Convent, have been classified as national monuments since 1910 and 1933.
Museum of Setúbal/Convent of Jesus
*Summer (June 1st to September 30th)
Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 17:00
Sunday from 15:00 am to 19:00 pm
Closed on Mondays and holidays
Winter (October 1st to May 31st)
Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 17:00
Sunday from 14:00 am to 17:00 pm
Closed on Mondays and holidays
Price: 3 € | 1 € (organized groups with prior appointment)
Free: -12 years | +65 years | school groups
Exhibitions
Long-term exhibition with about five dozen pieces from the collections of the Setúbal Museum, with art from the late Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque, in a chronological spatio-temporal itinerary between the end of the XNUMXth century and the XNUMXth century, and of average duration of the three phases of rehabilitation works on the national monument. Includes visits to the Coro Alto and Chapter rooms.
Summer (June 1st to September 30th)
Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 17:00
Sunday from 15:00 am to 19:00 pm
Closed on Mondays and holidays
Winter (October 1st to May 31st)
Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 17:00
Sunday from 14:00 am to 17:00 pm
Closed on Mondays and holidays
Free admission
Restricted access during religious services
Church of Jesus
Largo Miguel Bombarda
Tel: 969 754 107