Monastery of Jesus or Museum of Saint Joan or Museum of Aveiro, including the tomb of Saint Joan

Category: Religious Architecture > Monastery

District: Aveiro > Aveiro > Aveiro > Misericórdia

Location

It is located in the parish of Glória, in the municipality of Aveiro, Portugal.

History

The Monastery of Jesus was founded between 1458 and 1460 as a convent for Dominican nuns. In 1465, it began operating as a cloister. In 1472, King Afonso V's daughter, Princess Joanna, entered the monastery, where she died in 1490. She was beatified in 1693 and is venerated as Saint Joanna.

National Monument

The Monastery was classified as a National Monument in 1910, highlighting its historical and architectural value.

Aveiro Museum

The monastery was transformed into the Aveiro Museum in 1911, with a diverse collection, especially of sacred art, which includes painting, sculpture, carving, tiles, and goldsmithing.

Tomb of Saint Joanna

The tomb of Saint Joanna, located in the church choir, is a Baroque masterpiece in polychrome marble. It was designed by the architect João Antunes between 1699 and 1711 and is one of the museum's highlights.

Church of Jesus

The monastery church has a rich decoration of gilded wood carvings and tiles. The chancel, dating from 1725 to 1729, is a work from Porto that includes sculptures and paintings by artists such as António Gomes and Manuel Ferreira e Sousa.

Cloister and Refectory

The cloister, dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, is a calm and beautiful space, ideal for appreciating the ancient architecture. The refectory, with walls covered in tiles and a reading tribune, is another point of interest.

Museum Collections

The museum has works of art ranging from the 15th to the 20th century, with a strong focus on the Baroque period. Highlights include the Gothic tomb of D. João de Albuquerque and the collection of Portuguese art, including pieces such as the "Holy Family" by Machado de Castro.

Other Highlights

The museum also houses various works by unknown artists, such as the portrait of Princess Saint Joanna and the "Lamentation of Christ" from the 18th century.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosteiro_de_Jesus

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt