Cultural Center of Casa Pia

The Cultural Center of Casa Pia (in portuguese, Centro Cultural Casapiano) belongs to the centenary organization Casa Pia de Lisboa. This public institution was created on the July 3^rd of 1780 by the magistrate Diogo Inácio de Pina Manique with the purpose of mitigate the tragic and lasting consequences of the great earthquake of 1755.

In the beginning, the Casa Pia was housed in the Castelo de São Jorge¹ and there developed and began not only to receive the most unfortunate ones as also teach technical professions, music and arts. Later it moved to the Convento do Desterro² in the beginning of the 19^th century and in 1833 it moved again, this time to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos³.

On the July 3^rd of the year 2000 the Cultural Center of Casa Pia is created with the firm intention of preserving and spread the culture of the institution. For such, it counts with the museum, an historic archive, the Biblioteca César da Silva⁴ and the Auditório Rainha Dona Isabel⁵ that has the capacity for 115 people. In the museum, was created a route that unfolds over the lifetime of the Casa Pia de Lisboa and addresses both the historical aspects as the teaching of skills taught.

Two years after the inauguration of the cultural center, the Casa Pia de Lisboa enters in a dark period of its history when was uncovered a pedophile network within the institution. The good name and improvements of the organization throughout more than two centuries will be forever stained.

Translation references

1. São Jorge Castle
2. Desterro Convent
3. Jerónimos Monastery
4. Library César da Silva
5. Auditorium Queen Dona Isabel