CONVENTO DE BRANCANES - AN EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTY FOR TOURISTIC DEVELOPMENT

THE CONVENT HISTORY

The former Convent and Seminary of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos de Brancanes was founded in 1682 under the direction of Captain Pedro da Silva Dodarte, with the support of Friar das Chagas and the royal backing of D. Pedro II. It was a part of the Order of Friars Minor, and the Church was opened for worship in 1696.

Following the devastating earthquake of 1755, the Municipality of Setúbal began using the Convento de Brancanes. During the French invasions, the convent was occupied by Napoleon's troops, who transformed it into a military hospital. They violated several graves, plundering valuable items.

In 1811, the reconstruction of the Church of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos began. It had been desecrated and destroyed by French soldiers in March 1808 but was reinstated for worship on May 10, 1812.

In 1910, a fire broke out at the Convent, leading to significant damage. From that year onward, it housed military units, undergoing transformations and adaptations that did not respect the original nature of the property throughout the 20th century.

Since 1981, the former premises of the extinct Costa Artillery regiment, previously known as the Seminary for Franciscan Missionaries of Nª Senhora dos Anjos, have been occupied by the Health Service Battalion (B.S.S.). It also served as Brancanes Prison from 1998 to 2005. In November 1998, the property was decommissioned from its military functions and reassigned to the Ministry of Justice. In 2007, it was acquired by the current owners.

The convent building has a rectangular plan, featuring two long longitudinal wings and three transversal rooms that form two identical squares with central cloisters. One of the longitudinal wings previously housed the church dedicated to Nossa Senhora dos Anjos. On the ground floor, there were three round-arched porticoes that opened onto an atrium, which was later transformed into a chapel when the Convent was occupied by the Health Service Battalion (BSS) of Setúbal from 1981. The entrance to the building is located to the left of this space, where blue and white tile panels depicting the daily activities of the friars have been preserved.

In July 2008, a project was submitted for the rehabilitation and transformation of the Convento de Brancanes into a hotel facility. The project has received a favorable opinion from the City Council, with a focus on ensuring accessibility and preserving the landscape.