Carmo Archaeological Museum (Convento do Carmo)

The Carmo Archaeological Museum (Museu Arqueológico do Carmo) stands as one of Lisbon's most atmospheric and historically significant monuments. Housed within the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the 14th-century Carmelite Convent, the museum preserves a unique testament to the devastating 1755 earthquake that destroyed much of Lisbon. Rather than rebuilding, the decision was made to preserve the ruins as a memorial to the catastrophe, creating one of the city's most dramatic architectural sites. Founded by Nuno Álvares Pereira, a revered Portuguese knight, in the late 1300s, the convent was constructed in Gothic style and served as the headquarters of the Carmelite Order in Lisbon. The catastrophic earthquake left the magnificent structure roofless and in ruins, exposing its soaring Gothic arches and pointed windows to the sky. Today, the Archaeological Association of Portugal operates the site as a museum, exhibiting a fascinating collection of archaeological artifacts spanning from prehistory to the 19th century. The collection includes Roman and medieval artifacts, Gothic tombs, mummies from Peru, pre-Columbian ceramics, and religious sculptures. Walking through the roofless nave under the open sky, with its Gothic pillars reaching toward the heavens, visitors experience a powerful connection to Lisbon's past and the city's remarkable resilience.