Church of Our Lady of Pleasures of Aldeia Galega da Merceana

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Lisboa > Alenquer > Aldeia Galega da Merceana > Aldeia Galega da Merceana e Aldeia Gavinha

History and Evolution Over the Centuries

The Church of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, in Aldeia Galega da Merceana, has a history marked by several remodels from the 16th century to the present day.

Architecture and Exterior Characteristics

The main façade is simple, with a galilee in front and two towers, one of them with bells.

The presence of a colonnade of Tuscan columns on the north façade stands out, ending at the funerary chapel.

Decorative Interior and Iconography

The interior of the church is richly decorated, with tile cladding illustrating passages from the Old and New Testaments.

Eighteenth-century paintings adorn the walls of the nave, while the painted wooden ceiling depicts the Assumption of the Virgin.

Gilded carvings cover the altarpieces, the choir, the pulpits and the side altars, with emphasis on the polychromatic altarpiece in the chancel.

Curiosities and Conservation Status

The church suffered significant damage from the 1755 earthquake, leading to a Pombaline reconstruction, evidenced by the tiles in the nave and carved details.

The presence of Manueline elements in the main portal highlights its sixteenth-century architecture.

Sources: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Igreja_de_Nossa_Senhora_dos_Prazeres_-_Aldeia_Galega_da_Merceana_-_Portugal_(49411039513).jpg

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