departments – and for storage. The chapel was used as the Civil Registry Office up to about 1940 after which it was restored and used for religious services. In 1961-1963 it functioned as the main town church while the principal church (Igreja Matriz) was being renovated. Services ended in the chapel in 1974 due to reduced attendance. The chapel was renovated in 1989 at which time whatever of the original furnishings could be found were also restored and returned. The rest of the building was restored during 1992 and 1993 and the complex was re-opened on 27 May 1993 as the town's cultural centre. Part of the old building was appropriated by the civil parish authority of Lagoa e Carvoeiro where it continues to operate. Architecture Built originally of limestone with lime mortar, the convent has been altered many times since its construction. The small chapel was restored in the mid-19th century by Luís Antonio Maravilhas; his design included a vaulted roof, a main altar, 6 more altars in the side arches, and Ionic-style pilasters. This is more or less the shape it has today. Among the restored furnishings there are carved altar-pieces and an image of the patron saint, Saint Joseph with the Christ Child (18th century). In front of the building is a belvedere tower built on an archway over the street. The bell gable has two bells, one 55 x 64 cm, weighing 190 kg and dated 1794; the second is 33 x 37 cm and weighs 34 kg. The original entrance to the convent was to the left of the tower (with a vestibule and parlor as well as the baby wheel); this area now houses the civil parish offices. A new entrance has been constructed to the right of the tower in what used to be the vestry courtyard. The cloister has a subterranean cistern to catch rain water; it is accessed by an octagonal “well” in its centre. Many of the rooms around the cloister (on both floors) have been opened up and converted into connected exhibition rooms. An auditorium was added during the last renovations. In the entrance garden is a menhir, found in the Areias das Almas, Porches, dated to sometime between 5000 and 4000 B.C. It was discovered during an archaeological dig in 1975-76 by Varela Gomes. References Notes Sources Buildings and structures in Lagoa, Algarve Convents in Portugal Buildings and