If you are exploring Chiado, you will probably come across one of the most unusual sights in central Lisbon: the ruins of the Carmo Church.
The church was founded in 1389 by Nuno Álvares Pereira, one of the most important military figures in Portuguese history. It became one of Lisbon's great Gothic churches and was part of a large Carmelite convent.
Everything changed with the Lisbon earthquake of 1 November 1755.
The earthquake badly damaged the church, and the fires that followed destroyed much of its interior. Reconstruction began the following year, but it was never completed. In 1834, religious orders were abolished in Portugal and the works stopped.
The result is what you see today: huge Gothic arches with no roof, completely open to the sky.
The ruins are now home to the Carmo Archaeological Museum, which has occupied the site since 1864. You can walk through the old nave and see archaeological pieces, medieval tombs and objects from different periods of Portuguese history.
For me, however, the building itself is the main reason to visit. It is one of the few places in central Lisbon where the destruction caused by the 1755 earthquake is still so easy to imagine.
There is also another important chapter of Portuguese history connected to this square.
On 25 April 1974, during the Carnation Revolution, Prime Minister Marcelo Caetano took refuge in the military headquarters at Largo do Carmo. The building was surrounded by forces commanded by Captain Salgueiro Maia, and it was here that Caetano eventually surrendered.
So this quiet square is connected to two very different moments that changed Portugal: the earthquake of 1755 and the revolution of 1974.
One useful tip if you visit: before leaving Largo do Carmo, walk towards the upper area beside the Santa Justa Lift. You can enjoy a beautiful view over Baixa and Rossio without paying to take the lift.
🇵🇹 Planning your trip to Lisbon?
My Lisbon Digital Travel Guide includes practical tips, local recommendations, day trips and organised Google Maps lists ready to use on your phone.
I also have guides for Porto, the Algarve and Madeira, plus a Portugal pack with 29 curated Google Maps lists covering all four destinations and places across the country.
👉 DOWNLOAD HERE: www.portugaldigitalguides.com
0 comments