Revive Launches Public Tender for Convento de Santo António Dos Capuchos

27 September 2018

This Wednesday, the Revive program launched the public tender for the concession of the Santo António dos Capuchos Convent, in Leiria.

Interested investors now have 105 days to submit bids (until January 9, 2019).

The Santo António dos Capuchos Convent dates to 1657, with architectural elements typical of the Capuchin convents. In 1770, construction increased the size of the building, adding lateral wings and baroque portals. New construction increased the building’s size once again in the nineteenth century, giving it its current layout, with the building surrounding a cloister and patio. With the extinction of the religious orders in 1834, the convent was ceded to the Portuguese state, which converted it into a military hospital in 1864. It was restored in 1904 and has been vacant for several years.

The concession area covers the whole of the property, which will be granted for a 50-year period for use in tourism-related ventures.

The Convent of Santo António dos Capuchos is one of 33 properties that will be auctioned under the auspices of Revive, a joint program by the Ministries of the Economy, Culture and Finance with the collaboration of local authorities. The program seeks to take advantage of Portugal’s underused property heritage, strengthen the attractiveness of regional destinations and further the development of various regions of the country. This will be the program’s eighth auction.

The Minister of Economy, Manuel Caldeira Cabral, stated that “this is a landmark property in the city of Leiria, which has been unoccupied for several years and which will be returned to the city for the benefit of residents and visitors. With an exceptional location in Leiria, overlooking the castle, the concession of this property will be an important factor in generating wealth and employment in the region.”

On the other hand, the Minister of Culture, Luís Filipe de Castro Mendes, emphasised that “the property is of enormous artistic and historical value, integrated into the city of Leiria’s urban environment. The project will take full advantage of this architecturally important convent.”

Original Story: Publituris

Translation: Richard Turner