MUSEU DE SÃO ROQUE If you’re more inclined towards sin than religion, prepare to change your mind. The Museu de São Roque, belonging to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, has been given a recent facelift and is now an appealing place to visit and distract yourself from the city hubbub while discovering fabulous treasures.
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Largo Trindade Coelho · Tel. 21 323 5065 www.museu-saoroque.com 10h00-18h00 (quinta-feira das 14h00 às 21h00 / thursday from 2pm until 9pm) Fecha /closed on monday 8 · baixàasegunda-feira & chiado con vida
ome and discover a new museum designed on a human scale and housed in the former Professed House of the Society of Jesus. In the sophisticated atmosphere and ideal lighting, over 300 exhibits are given new life. The rich exuberance of the baroque era comes to the fore in paintings, expressive polychrome images on wood, precious relics, liturgical objects and in the splendid Chapel of St. John the Baptist and its Treasure. The permanent exhibition is organised into 5 sections, starting with the Shrine of Saint Roch, which contains four painted panels and a relic of Saint Roch, which was in the original shrine, built in 1506. This is followed by the Society of Jesus Section, which exhibits pieces from the church and the former professed house. The Oriental Art Section has a selection of orientally-inspired artifacts that once belonged to the jesuit order. The fourth section consists of the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, which was built in Rome in the 18th century and contains a collection of pieces of great inventive quality, technical rigour and value (part of this collection is on exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London until late July). The last section, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, consists of a selection of historical and symbolic art objects that help to understand the history of the institution. The museum also has a shop, where you can find original gifts and souvenirs. And don’t forget the café/restaurant in the calm cloisters, lulled by the gentle sound of water and the green of the bamboo. Lunch on beef carpaccio (Carpaccio de Novilho com Queijo da Ilha e agriões), or enjoy a glass of wine over a steak sandwich (Preguinho). At the weekends, there’s brunch and scones for afternoon tea. You’re going to want to come back!•