The grandiose old building is also being touted as a potential project for a senior citizen’s home or health unit.
The classified monument went up for sale last week, having been put on the market by Estamo, the public company that manages State real estate.


A maximum deadline of 5 May this year has been established for the submission of proposals.
Estamo’s official website lists a description of the old Convent, saying it has “good access” and is “located in an area with a good transport network”.


In addition to the historical character of the monument, which boasts 78,000 square metres of land, Estamo highlights the fact that those who might buy the run down monument will be able to build on an area of about 20 thousand square metres, predominantly for housing, or opt to use 27,800 square metres for the construction of a hotel, apart-hotel, senior residence or a health unit.


These are the options outlined by Estamo, according to Setúbal’s Municipal Master Plan.

Currently in a state of ruin, the convent was built in 1410 on a land donated by Dona Maria Eanes Escolar.


The property originally belonged to the Order of the Friars Minor, more commonly known as Franciscans, from the Province then known as the Algarves.


According to records this was probably the first religious order to be established in Setúbal.


In 1619 it was visited by Philip III of Castile; in 1749 it underwent improvements, in particular to the dilapidated chapel, but in 1755 it was again left in a state of disrepair by the great Lisbon earthquake.


More recently it was converted into army barracks before being vacated and put on the market for sale.


The Setúbal Convent is the latest national monument to join a long list of historic palaces, castles and estates that have been sold in Portugal for conversion.


Many of these are bought up by hotel chains such as the Pestana group, which transforms Portuguese real estate heritage into leading luxury boutique hotels for its Pousadas de Portugal chain, which was formerly run by the State.


A beautiful old theatre in the Alentejo district of Portalegre, a historical property built in 1854 and one of the oldest purpose-built theatres in Portugal, was also recently put up for sale on the online marketplace OLX, for €350,000.