The Carmelite Convent—once Lisbon’s largest—was built in 1389 by Nuno Álvares Pereira to give thanks for Portugal’s victories over Castile. It was all but destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, leaving the haunting shell of a Gothic church that still stands today. The former sacristy houses the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo, a compact but intriguing collection of Gothic tombs, Roman epigraphy, medieval tiles, and ancient coins. Outside, the tree-shaded Largo do Carmo connects to the top platform of the Elevador de Santa Justa and is a tranquil spot for a coffee or cocktail. But this peaceful setting belies its dramatic history: it was here, at the adjacent Carmo barracks, that Prime Minister Marcelo Caetano took refuge during the 1974 Carnation Revolution. He eventually surrendered to rebel troops, marking the end of the dictatorship. Today, the Museu da Guarda Nacional Republicana (closed Sunday and Monday) occupies the barracks and includes the historic room where Caetano made his final stand.
