Carmo Archaeological Museum

The Carmo Archaeological Museum occupies the roofless nave of the Carmo Convent, a Gothic church partially destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The open-air setting creates a poignant atmosphere, where stone arches frame the sky above the exhibits. Visitors explore artifacts spanning from the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages, including Roman mosaics, Visigothic jewelry, and Azulejo tiles. The museum's centerpiece is the collection of pre-Columbian mummies and Peruvian funerary bundles, which contrast sharply with the Christian ruins. The experience is as much about the building itself as the objects within, the skeletal church, with its surviving pillars and rose window, tells a story of Lisbon's resilience. Located in the Chiado district, it offers a quiet respite from the city's bustle, with a small café in the cloister.

Don't miss

• The roofless Gothic nave and surviving arches
• Pre-Columbian mummies from Peru
• Roman mosaics and medieval tombs
• Visigothic votive crowns and jewelry
• The 16th-century Azulejo panels

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Carmo Archaeological Museum

Cheapest way inAlfama and Mouraria Tour - The oldest neighbourhoods in Lisbon4.9★ · 524 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$1 per personSee dates →Most bookedLisbon City Center Tour - The Unmissable Lisbon5★ · 24,624 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$3 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleLisbon Jewish Heritage and History 4H Private Tour Van5★ · 321 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$180 per personSee dates →

Know before you go

• Allow at least 1 hour to fully explore the exhibits and the church ruins.
• Photography is allowed, but no flash near sensitive artifacts.
• Bags may need to be checked at the entrance; leave large backpacks at your hotel.
• The museum café in the cloister is a lovely spot for a break.

A bit of history

The Carmo Convent was founded in 1389 by Nuno Álvares Pereira, a Portuguese general. The 1755 earthquake collapsed its roof, and the ruins were never rebuilt. In 1864, the Associação dos Arqueólogos Portugueses established the museum to house archaeological collections.