Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Leiria > Peniche > Peniche > Centro Histórico
The Church of Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Peniche is located in the town's Historic Centre, in Largo D. Pedro V. Its façade blends into the traditional village houses, opening onto a small square that marks the heart of the settlement. The building stands adjacent to what was the institution's former hospital, reflecting its historic and central presence in the community.
The Brotherhood of Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Peniche was founded in 1626, and its church, which can be visited today, was completed shortly after, in 1634. From its inception, the institution played a fundamental role in supporting the community. Its historical and heritage importance is recognised by its classification as a Property of Public Interest since 1978, highlighting its cultural and architectural value.
The church features an interesting combination of styles, with a general volume that harks back to the 17th-century Mannerist period, and a main façade incorporating elements of the Pombaline style, resulting from a significant restoration in 1793. The façade, with simple lines, is topped by a triangular pediment with decorative elements. Noteworthy is the bell tower, square in plan and crowned by a singular bulbous dome, which rises above the complex and is visible from the surroundings.
The church's interior reveals a space of great artistic richness. The nave walls are entirely covered with 17th-century polychrome pattern tiles, creating a visually striking environment. In the sacristy, visitors will find 18th-century blue and white tiles, decorated with a repetitive star motif. The nave ceiling, made of coffered wood, is notable for the fifty-five canvases that adorn it, depicting scenes from the New Testament, some attributed to painters such as Baltazar Gomes Figueira and Pedro Peixoto.
In the chancel, the main altarpiece stands out, in rocaille style and richly polychromed, a work by master carver Manuel Martins da Ribeira, dated 1767. The church also preserves a Manueline holy water font, transferred from the extinct Convent of Bom Jesus, and a gravestone marking the transfer of D. Luís de Ataíde's remains in 1937. The mesários' tribune, with its arcades and wrought-iron balustrade, offers a unique perspective on the temple's interior.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.357476,-9.3789694
Coordinates DMS: 39°21'26.9"N 09°22'44.3"W
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