Convent and Church of Jesus

The Convent and Church of Jesus are true landmarks in the history of Portuguese architecture, marking the beginning of the Manueline style.

The project originated at the end of the 15th century, when Justa Rodrigues Pereira—nanny to King Manuel I—negotiated with the Vatican and the royal court to build a convent.

The works, which began in 1490 and apparently finished in 1496, were carried out by Diogo Boitaca, who also designed monuments such as the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower, and the Batalha Monastery.

The Church of Jesus is considered the first example in Portugal of a hall church, conceived as a homogeneous, light-filled space. The Convent of Jesus employed innovative solutions for the time, such as semicircular arches, vaults supported by segmental arches, and ribbed vaulting. In 1888, with the suppression of religious orders, the building became the Hospital da Misericordia, which operated there until 1959. The Church of Jesus, as well as the cloister and the Chapter House of the Convent, have been listed as national monuments since 1910 and 1933.