Churches

Churches, Cathedrals and Monasteries in Portugal

Igreja de Santa Maria

Small whitewashed 18th century church located within the walls of Braganca castle. Best known for its vivid depiction of the Assumption on its barrel-shaped ceiling

Built in 1565 and restored in 1691, São Vicente sits on the site of a much earlier Visigoth church. As with many catholic churches the rather functional exterior does not betray the luxurious interior.

Congregados Basilica

Work began on the Basilica of the Igreja dos Congregados in the early 18th century when baroque styling was all the rage. By the time it was finished in the 1960s rococo and neoclassical had been and gone. The result, all the same is a stunning church both inside and out.

The church was designed by architect André Soares and features two bell towers. The façade also has two notable statues by sculptor Manuel Nogueira da Silva - these represent saints Filipe de Nery and Martinho de Dume and were the final part of the church to be completed in 1964.

The interior of the basilica...

Igreja do Bom Jesus da Cruz

Built in 1704 on the site of the miraculous apparition of a cross. The small, domed church is octagonal and built in a granite/whitewash style common to the north of Portugal. Like many churches in Portugal, the relative plainness of the exterior does not hint at the lavish interior.

Igreja da Misericordia

Igreja da Misericórdia - Braga — Misericórdia church - Braga

This 16th century church is Braga's most important legacy of the renaissance period. It contains an impressive baroque carved altar

Igreja de Sao Paulo

Igreja de São Paulo - Braga — Igreja de São Paulo

The Igreja de São Paulo (St Paul) is a small, austere looking 16th-century church built by the Jesuits. By contrast, the interior is an explosion of lavish baroque

Estrela Basilica

Basilica da Estrela - Lisbon — Basilica da Estrela

The Basílica da Estrela in Lisbon is a huge baroque/neoclassical church with a most impressive dome. It was built by order of Queen Maria I of Portugal to celebrate the birth of her first (and only) son, José, Prince of Brazil. It is perhaps no coincidence that the styling is similar to the National Palace in Mafra as this was built by her father, João V, to celebrate the birth of his own first child.

The architects were Mateus Vicente de Oliveira and Reinaldo Manuel de Sousa whose other work included the...

Igreja de Santo Ildefonso

Completed in 1739, this proto-Baroque style features a distinctive façade of azulejo tilework. Inside is a retable by the Italian artist Nicolau Nasoni

Batalha Monastery

This extravagant mix of Late Gothic and Manueline architecture is rightly placed on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Built in the 14th century by King João I to celebrate victory in the battle of Aljubarrota the monastery houses both his and his son, Henry the Navigator's, tombs

Bom Jesus do Monte

Pilgrimage site with a monumental, Baroque stairway climbing 116 metres up to the impressive church. The truly devoted climb the last section on their knees!