Aveiro City Museum

The city museum of Aveiro

The museum of Aveiro is installed in the former convent of Jesus, jewel of Portuguese religious art linked to the memory of princess Joana. The Aveiro audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this female Dominican convent founded in 1458, where the daughter of King Afonso V lived in humility until her death in 1490, and her inlaid marble tomb, masterpiece of the seventeenth century.

History

If all the stages of our route aim to better make the city known, this one is doubtless the richest: here you are at the doors of the museum of Aveiro. As vast by its size as by the history it contains, it was established in 1911 in the former convent of Jesus, of the female Dominican Order. Founded in 1458, this convent had the incredible particularity of counting the princess Joana, daughter of King Afonso V, among its nuns. Desiring to devote herself to God, the sovereign entered there in 1472 and led an existence of strict simplicity and great humility. Although prevented by her family, who destined her for a princely marriage, from pronouncing the entirety of her solemn vows, the princess Joana stayed at the convent until her death in 1490. Her tomb, a true masterpiece of the seventeenth century in inlaid marble mosaic, is the highlight of the visit, in the former stalls of the choir. Right beside, a chapel covered with gilded woodwork unfolds a set of hand-painted azulejos. You will visit this place of memory and faith with respect.

What to see

Here you visit, with respect, the museum of Aveiro, installed in the former convent of Jesus, a female Dominican convent founded in 1458; its treasure is the inlaid marble tomb of princess Joana, daughter of Afonso V, who lived there in humility until 1490, and a chapel with gilded woodwork and hand-painted azulejos. The museum of Aveiro is a jewel of sacred art, to be discovered with respect. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The museum of Aveiro occupies the former convent of Jesus, in the centre of the city, reachable on foot. It is a museum of sacred art whose access and hours follow the conditions in force, which vary; the tomb and the chapel are visited in the respect of the place. It is best to enquire before coming.

Who was princess Joana, linked to the museum of Aveiro?

Daughter of King Afonso V, she entered in 1472 the convent of Jesus of Aveiro, desirous of devoting herself to God, and lived there in the strictest humility until her death in 1490, despite the opposition of her family who destined her for a princely marriage; her inlaid marble tomb, masterpiece of the seventeenth century, is the highlight of the museum installed in the former convent.

Where is the museum of Aveiro?

In the former convent of Jesus, in the centre of Aveiro, in Portugal.