Regional Museum of Beja - Queen Dona Leonor Museum

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Beja > Beja > Beja > Santiago Maior e São João Baptista e Salvador

Location

The Beja Regional Museum, officially named Queen Leonor Museum, is located in the heart of the city of Beja. It is situated within the parishes of Santiago Maior, São João Baptista, and Salvador, positioning it in a central and historic area of the urban agglomeration. Its location allows visitors to experience the city's traditional atmosphere, with its characteristic streets and architecture.

An Architectural and Artistic Legacy

The museum occupies the premises of the former Convent of Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Our Lady of Conception), a medieval foundation building dating from 1459. Over the centuries, this space underwent successive interventions and expansions, resulting in a fascinating combination of architectural styles. As a whole, it is possible to observe the transition and coexistence of elements characteristic of the Gothic, the decorative richness of the Manueline, and the opulence of the Baroque, reflecting different periods of Portuguese history.

Collections and History

Inside its galleries, the museum presents a collection that allows a journey through the history of the region and the country. One of the most significant sections is the Visigothic Nucleus, which preserves important vestiges of the Visigothic presence on the peninsula. Furthermore, the collections cover various areas, such as archaeology, revealing findings from different periods, gold and silverware, with pieces of great artistic value, and painting. The collection also includes a remarkable collection of azulejo tiling, as well as examples of sculpture and wood carving, which enrich the cultural experience of its visitors.

The Link with Soror Mariana

The building that today houses the Beja Regional Museum has a strong historical link with the figure of Soror Mariana Alcoforado. This Poor Clare nun, who lived here in the 17th century, became famous for her enigmatic love letters, which transcended borders and became a landmark in universal literature. The presence and memory of Soror Mariana lend the convent and, consequently, the museum, a symbolic dimension that deepens the understanding of conventual life and the society of the time.

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