Aveiro City Museum

While every stop on our itinerary helps you understand Aveiro a little better, this one might just do it best. You’re now standing in front of the Aveiro City Museum. Housed inside the former Convent of Jesus, the museum was established in 1911. The convent itself dates back to 1458 and was once home to the female branch of the Dominican Order. What truly sets it apart is one of its most famous residents, Princess Joana, daughter of King Afonso V of Portugal. In 1472, the young princess chose to devote her life to God and entered the convent, embracing a path of humility and devotion. Though her royal family hoped to marry her off to one of Europe’s powerful monarchs and never allowed her to take full vows, Joana remained at the convent until her death in 1490. Her tomb is the highlight of any visit to the museum. A stunning 17th-century masterpiece made of inlaid marble mosaics, it sits within the old choir stalls. Next to it, you’ll find a chapel adorned with gilded woodwork and stunning azulejos, the iconic hand-painted tiles, illustrating scenes from the life of Princess Joana, or Saint Joana, the patron saint of Aveiro, who was beatified by the Pope in 1693. Thanks to the wealth generated by Brazil’s gold mines in the early 18th century, the Portuguese royal family acquired numerous valuable pieces, many of which were later donated to religious institutions like the Convent of Jesus. The Aveiro Museum is also home to a priceless collection of ceramics, figurines, jewellery, paintings, and furniture crafted by some of Europe’s greatest artists. Declared a national monument in 1910, the Aveiro City Museum is a place full of beauty, devotion, and history. So take your time, there’s more than one surprise waiting inside.