Museu de Setúbal / Convento de Jesus
Municipal museum housed in the Convento de Jesus, a Manueline building from 1490, with sacred painting of the 16th century, archaeology and contemporary art.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Convento de Jesus began to be built in 1490, at the initiative of Justa Rodrigues Pereira, governess to D. Manuel, to house nuns of the Order of Saint Clare. The design is attributed to Diogo Boitaca, the architect who also worked on the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. After ascending the throne, D. Manuel I had the church reformed and the convent enlarged. The Sala do Capítulo (chapter house) today has the layout by António Rodrigues, from 1582, and the Coro Alto (high choir) retains the traces of conventual life. From 1893 the building functioned as the Hospital do Espírito Santo.
The museum opened on 5 February 1961, under the name Museu da Cidade, on the initiative of the provedor (chairman) of the Misericórdia, João Botelho Moniz Borba, who proposed converting the former convent into a museum. It passed to the supervision of the Câmara Municipal de Setúbal in 1980, which created the educational service and strengthened the technical resources.
The collection brings together sacred painting from the Convento de Jesus, with the altarpiece of the high chapel attributed to the workshop of Jorge Afonso and works attributed to Gregório Lopes, as well as collections of azulejo tiles, archaeology, with prehistoric and Roman materials, and contemporary art. The documentation centre holds libraries and personal archives of various personalities.
Highlights
- Altarpiece of the high chapel, by Jorge Afonso (1517–1530)
- 16th-century sacred painting attributed to Gregório Lopes
- Manueline building attributed to Diogo Boitaca, with the Sala do Capítulo and Coro Alto
- Collections of archaeology from the Chalcolithic to the Roman period and contemporary art
- Azulejos from the Palácio Cabedo
Permanent exhibitions
- Coleção de pintura sacra do Convento de Jesus – The altarpiece of the high chapel by Jorge Afonso and 16th-century works attributed to Gregório Lopes and Quentin Metsys.
- Coleções de arqueologia – Materials from Castro da Rotura and Fazendinha, of the Chalcolithic period, and from Roman sites such as Alferrara and Tróia, as well as finds from the convent itself.
- Founded
- 1961
- Operated by
- Município de Setúbal
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3.60 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 23 · Free admission for children and young people up to and including age 23. |
| Seniors | freeFree admission for adults over 64. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for visitors with a disability of 60% or more and one companion. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €1.55 per personGroup ticket per person, minimum 15 people, with prior booking. |
| Families | –50% discount on the total price for families of more than three people in the household. |
| Circuit ticket (network of municipal museums, valid one month) | €9.25 |
Free admission: First Sunday of each month, International Museum Day and European Night of Museums.
Free admission for children and young people up to and including age 23, and for adults over 64; for visitors with a disability of 60% or more and one companion; for unemployed visitors resident in the European Union; for museum and heritage professionals on duty; for members of ICOM, ICOMOS and APOM; for journalists, accredited guides, teachers and accompanying adults of school groups; on International Museum Day, on the European Night of Museums and on the first Sunday of each month. Holders of the Setúbal municipal Cartão Jovem receive a 50% discount.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Detailed accessibility information was not obtained; the portal of the Setúbal municipal museums is dedicated to a culture without barriers.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 23 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Educational activities for families and schools, such as “Caça ao Retábulo”.
Getting there & parking
The museum is on Largo de Jesus, in the historic centre of Setúbal.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum has a documentation centre with libraries and archives.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided visits throughout the year; for groups, by prior booking. The educational service offers activities such as “O Museu é meu!”, “O Convento é um poema” and “Caça ao Retábulo”. |
