The Convent

Brief History of the Building

The Convento de São José is located in Lagoa (Algarve). It has a rich and multifaceted history that reflects the social, political, and religious transformations that have shaped its nearly three centuries of existence.

From Church to Reclusion: The Foundation and Early Years (1736–1834)

The construction of the Church of São José began in 1736, with the first Mass celebrated three years later, in 1739. The foundation of the Reclusorium of São José came later, formalized in 1743 through a provision by D. Inácio de Santa Teresa, Bishop of Algarve, with the aim of eventually transforming it into a convent. In that same year, the first Carmelite nuns joined the Reclusorium.

In 1755, like many buildings of the time, the church was not spared from the damage caused by the earthquake of November 1, which brought down the vault and damaged the bell tower.

In these early years, the life of the religious community was not yet properly regulated. Accordingly, in 1763, the Bishop of Algarve, D. Fr. Lourenço de Santa Maria, issued the Constitutions of the Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel of the Reclusorium of São José, a document establishing the rules and guidelines for the functioning of this religious house.

Despite the dissolution of religious orders in 1834, as a result of the rise of liberalism in Portugal, the Reclusorium of São José—which never actually became a convent, despite popular belief—remained active, distinguished by the resilience of its community and its significance to the local population.

From Reclusorium to School: Transition and Adaptation (1834–1911)

After the dissolution of religious orders, the Reclusorium of São José went through a period of transition and adaptation. The number of nuns gradually declined. Around 1850, its church was restored under the patronage of Luís António Maravilhas, a merchant from Portimão, and between 1861 and 1862, during the works on the Main Church, it served as the parish church of Lagoa.

In 1899, the building took on a new educational role with the opening of the Colégio de São José, then run by the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena. This girls’ school also hosted the Association for the Protection of Poor Girls, reinforcing the convent’s social and educational role.

The 20th Century and the Challenges of New Uses for the Convent (1911–1974)

The establishment of the Republic in 1910 brought new challenges to the Convento de São José. In 1911, even before the Law on the Separation of Church and State, the Dominican Sisters left the building, and the church was closed for worship. The following year, primary schools in Lagoa began operating in the former college, marking a new phase of public utility for the building.

In the following years, the convent hosted various institutions and public services. In 1922, the Republican Guard settled in part of the building, and according to available records, the church housed the Civil Registry Office between 1922 and 1940.

The building was finally acquired by the Lagoa City Council from the Jurisdictional Commission for the Assets of Extinct Religious Congregations in 1923 to house primary schools and various public offices.

In the 1940s, the church reopened for worship through the initiative of Father Joaquim António Vieira. Between 1957 and 1961, the convent cloister was used as an entertainment venue, hosting dances to support local welfare efforts. The chapel once again served as the parish church between 1961 and 1963 during a new round of works on the Main Church.

In 1963, the convent cells housed the first headquarters of the National Scout Corps of Lagoa, and in 1965, the Portuguese Female Youth of Lagoa inaugurated a niche in the same space.

The earthquake of February 28, 1969, caused significant damage to the already deteriorated building, resulting in the transfer of primary school classes to the new Plano dos Centenários School, due to the lack of suitable conditions in the convent classrooms.

The Beginning of Cultural Activities: Recognition and Renewal (1975–1999)

After April 25, 1974, the new municipal administration began to approach the Convento de São José with a socio-cultural vision, aiming to return the space to the public through the implementation of new cultural initiatives.

In a first phase, starting in 1975, the building began housing various municipal services, such as the departments of public works, urban planning, and water management. Between 1978 and 1979, it underwent restoration and rehabilitation works with the support of the Planning Office of the Algarve Region. During these years, recognizing the building’s importance and symbolism for the local community, it once again served as an entertainment venue, with dances held in the cloister to raise funds for the Lagoa Volunteer Firefighters.

In a second phase, the building took on various cultural functions. In 1985, as part of the municipal holiday celebrations, the Municipal Museum of Art, Ethnography, and Archaeology of Lagoa was inaugurated in the convent. A few years later, in 1993, the building was officially inaugurated as the Cultural Center of the City of Lagoa, with the presence of the Secretary of State for Culture.

At that time, the Cultural Center was equipped with an audiovisual office, a youth support center, a 90-seat auditorium, and a temporary exhibition room, while simultaneously housing the Municipal Historical Archive and the InforJovem Center.

The rehabilitation of the Convento de São José and its new use as a Cultural Center allowed for the development of a broad and enriching cultural program for the population of Lagoa and the Algarve region.

The 21st Century and the Convent’s Adoption by the Local Community (2000–2025)

At the beginning of the 21st century, the Convento de São José continued to play a central role in the cultural and community life of Lagoa. In 2013, the local parish council, which was housed in the building, moved to a new facility, allowing for further rehabilitation and adaptation works. The convent was equipped with a reception area, an information and ticket office for cultural services, and a new exhibition space dedicated to the “Roda dos Expostos,” with plans to install a space dedicated to the painter Manoel Gamboa in the west wing of the building.

In 2023, the CONVENTUS Project (2023–2025) began, aiming to develop new, inclusive, and plural perspectives on this building, highlighting its historical significance to the local population and laying the foundations for a museographic project rooted in the essence of the place and its community.