Mercy Church

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Faro > Aljezur > Aljezur > Centro Histórico

Location

The Church of Misericórdia is situated in the heart of Aljezur's Historic Centre, rising above Rua de São João de Deus. Its elevated position within the old urban fabric gives it a distinct presence, with the main facade facing east, which is reached by steps inviting discovery.

A Secular Legacy

The history of the Church of Misericórdia dates back to a period of great dynamism for the village of Aljezur, with the founding of the Brotherhood of Misericórdia sometime between 1498 and 1527. Although the exact date of its original construction is not entirely known, the main portal proudly displays the year 1577, a testament to its antiquity.

Over the centuries, the building endured periods of trial and renewal. It was significantly affected by the 1755 Earthquake, but its resilience allowed for rapid reconstruction in the years that followed. Important works, such as the installation of the pulpit and the tribune for the brothers in 1773, and the remodelling of the main altar in 1821, attest to its continuous adaptation and importance to the community.

Architectural Features

The architecture of the Church of Misericórdia reveals a fusion of styles that marked different eras, namely Renaissance, Mannerism, and Baroque. Its facade is crowned by a curved pediment, adorned with two pinnacles and an iron cross. The portal, of Renaissance inspiration, opens with a perfect round arch, flanked by a quadrangular window.

Attached to the south side is the sacristy, with a door distinguished by a framed oculus, culminating in a three-arched bell tower. Inside, the church presents a single, very sober nave, covered by a barrel vault. The triumphal arch, also with a perfect round arch and corbels, precedes the main altar, whose polychrome wooden altarpiece simulates marble, standing out with its gilded volutes that express the transition from Baroque to Rococo style.

Art and Spirituality Within

At the heart of the church, the main altarpiece houses a canvas representing the Visitation, while the tabernacle, with its small perfect round arched door, is topped by a curved pediment adorned with gilded floral decoration. The interior also houses a pulpit and a tribune, both dated 1773, which complement the wooden choir stalls bearing the coat of arms of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia.

Among the sacred art pieces, the images of Our Lady of Solitude, Saint Elizabeth, and Saint Mary Magdalene, all in the statue-of-rocaille typology, deserve special mention. The church's heritage also includes valuable liturgical objects, such as a silver chalice with paten, and two damask chasuble vestments, one from the 17th century and another from the 18th century, which enrich its artistic and cultural collection.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt