Church of Our Lady of the Olive Tree

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Santa Maria Maior

Location

In Lisbon, in the parish of Santa Maria Maior, the Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira is located in the heart of the Pombaline Downtown. Its remarkably discreet facade, integrated into a residential building on Rua de São Julião, can go unnoticed by those passing by. Only a simple triangular pediment, topped by a cross and a bronze olive branch, along with a small bell tower, signal the presence of this place of worship.

Origins and Historical Resilience

The history of this church dates back to the 13th or 14th centuries, having originally been a hermitage. Its foundation is attributed to Pedro Esteves, a wealthy merchant from Guimarães, and his wife Clara Geraldes, whose tombs were found on the site. The hermitage was dedicated to Our Lady and Saint Eligius, patron saint of jewelers and goldsmiths. Although it is suggested that its name is linked to an ancient olive tree that existed there, it is more likely that it derives from an older cult to Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, originating from Guimarães.

Later, the Confectioners' Brotherhood acquired and rebuilt the temple, which was then in ruins. However, the 1755 earthquake completely destroyed it. It is a remarkable fact that, after the catastrophe and in the face of the extensive urban remodelling of the Pombaline Downtown, the brotherhood managed to rebuild the church in exactly the same original location, integrating it into the new architecture of the reconstructed city. The image of the patron saint, saved from destruction, returned to the temple in 1766.

Artistic Richness of the Interior

The exterior modesty of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira contrasts with the artistic richness revealed within. With a single nave, the space is adorned by a surprising set of tile panels from the Real Fábrica de Louça do Rato (Royal Rato Pottery Factory), dating from the late 18th century. These tiles, predominantly in blue and white, feature elaborate frames with shell, vegetal, cherub, and angel motifs.

On the walls of the nave and the main chapel, eight tile paintings narrate episodes from the life of the Virgin Mary, from her Birth to her Assumption. The main altar houses the small image of the patron saint, Senhora da Oliveira (Our Lady of the Olive Tree), a crowned sculpture in upholstered and polychrome wood. In side niches are images of Saint Anthony and Saint Eligius, joined by an image of Saint Rita of Cascia, of great popular devotion, and one of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The ceilings of the nave and the main chapel are finished with quadratura paintings and representations of the Holy Spirit, complemented by a high choir and a pulpit in carved and gilded wood, and painted marble effects, which enhance the uniqueness of this space.

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