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GPS 38.52590606931852, -8.895151551504386

Convent of Jesus

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 XVth 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.

Setubal Museum

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.