Madre de Deus Convent, Religious complex in Penha de França, Portugal
The Madre de Deus Convent is a religious complex in Lisbon featuring a church, cloister, and tile museum. The church displays a decorated main nave, a square main chapel, and walls covered with thousands of hand-painted ceramic tiles from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The convent was founded in 1509 by Queen Eleanor and served as an important religious site for centuries. Major reconstructions in the 18th century transformed its structure and appearance.
The convent served as a center for religious community life and skilled tile craftsmanship. The spaces show how nuns lived and worked here, while decorative tiles throughout reflect both devotion and artistic mastery.
The site is open daily to visitors with guided tours available through the church, cloister, and museum galleries. Plan adequate time to explore the tile panels and architectural details throughout the complex.
One interior tile panel depicts Lisbon as it appeared before the 1755 earthquake, serving as a rare visual record of the city before its destruction. This artwork allows visitors to see what the city looked like and understand the dramatic changes that followed.
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