Santa Teresa de Jesus de Carnide convent, 17th century Carmelite convent in Carnide, Portugal.
The Santa Teresa de Jesus de Carnide convent is a 17th century Carmelite structure featuring a Latin cross plan with barrel-vaulted nave and intersecting vaults where the transept meets the nave. A quadrangular cloister surrounds the building, connecting its various sections.
The convent was founded in 1642 by Micaela Margarida de Sant'Ana, daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Matthias, on land granted by the Portuguese kingdom. It later transformed into a retirement home after the last nun died in 1881.
The walls feature blue and white tiles from the 17th and 18th centuries alongside large paintings by Portuguese masters such as Bento Coelho da Silveira. These artworks reflect the artistic values that shaped the space over centuries.
The building is located in Carnide, a neighborhood in Lisbon, and no longer operates as a religious site. Visitors should check availability in advance since it now functions as a retirement home.
The convent contains a graded iron window through which nuns observed mass and a small golden door for receiving communion. These details reveal how the community maintained privacy during spiritual practices.
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