Church of Santa Engracia

The construction of the Church of Saint Engràcia began in 1682, but construction work was often postponed indefinitely. The church has been converted into the National Pantheon, where important Portuguese figures are buried. It is located in the Alfama district, close to another famous monument of Lisbon, the monastery of São Vicente de Fora.

History of the Church of Santa Engracia

Construction of the temple was completed in the 17th century. Over the next three centuries, the church underwent reconstruction, thanks to which the name Engracia appeared, which in Portuguese means very long work. The temple itself became a replacement for many other cathedrals in Lisbon. The main architect was João Antunes, who became famous in Portugal for constructing many buildings in the Baroque style. The Royal Court of Portugal commissioned the architect to build a majestic structure that would personify the power of the royal family.

The construction of the Church of Saint Engracia lasted about 30 years; the death of the chief architect significantly slowed down the process of construction of this structure. Only John the Fifth, King of Portugal, began to show significant interest in the construction of this facility, and under his leadership a number of major works were completed. But until the 20th century, the temple was never completed; only at the beginning of 1967 the building was completely ready, and it was opened in a solemn ceremony.

Architecture of the Church of Santa Engracia

Antunes tried to give the church a unique design. The Greek cross became the shape of the roof, and the towers of the church were square; the façade of the Church of Santa Engracia was made in the Baroque style. Like many cathedrals in Portugal, the floors of Santa Engrassia were made of expensive marble. The entrance is decorated with majestic sculptures, and here you can also find various frescoes from the 17th century, which have been preserved here in their original form. In the mid-20th century, the church was given the status of the National Pantheon. Under dictator Salazar, famous personalities of Portugal were buried here, including presidents, poets, artists and many other personalities. In honor of the great Portuguese navigators Henry the Navigator and Vasco da Gama, cenotaphs were also erected here.

It is worth noting that from the roof of the church - from its dome, there is a magnificent view of Lisbon and the Tagus River. This place has become iconic, as it was here that photographs were taken that became the “calling cards” of the city. The Church of Santa Engracia is an iconic place among many Catholic cathedrals in Europe. Every tourist visiting Lisbon should see this architectural monument.