Church of São Roque

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Misericórdia

History

- Foundation and Importance: Built in the late 16th century, it was the first Jesuit church in Portugal and one of the first in the world. The church survived the 1755 Earthquake and, after the earthquake, was ceded to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa.

- Development: Initially designed in the "auditorium-church" style for preaching, the church has a rich history of alterations and additions, including chapels of different styles and eras.

Architecture and Decoration

- Facade: Simple and austere, following the canons of the time.

- Interior: Rich in gilded wood carvings, paintings and tiles from the 16th and 17th centuries. The ceiling features an original painting from the late 16th century, which survived the earthquake thanks to an anti-seismic system.

- Chapel of St. John the Baptist: Commissioned by D. João V, it is a masterpiece of Italian art, famous for its mosaics by Mattia Moretti and precious marbles.

Chapels of Interest

- Chapel of St. Francis Xavier: Decorated with sculptures and paintings from the 17th century, including works by José de Avelar Rebelo.

- Chapel of São Roque: Originally part of the hermitage of São Roque, it stands out for the Mannerist painting by Gaspar Dias and tiles by Francisco de Matos.

Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament

Features a Baroque decoration and paintings by Bento Coelho da Silveira.

- Chapel of Our Lady of Piety: Known for its theatrical decoration and the Pietà from the 17th century.

- Chapel of St. Anthony: Rebuilt after the 1755 Earthquake, with neoclassical frescoes and paintings by Vieira Lusitano.

- Chapel of the Holy Family: It has a Mannerist decoration and paintings attributed to José de Avelar Rebelo and André Reinoso.

Museum of Sacred Art

- Located next to the church, in Largo Trindade Coelho, it presents pieces linked to the history of the church and worship.

Curiosities

- Relics: The church houses relics of Saint Roque, a saint known for curing the plague.

- Ceiling: One of the rare 16th-century ceilings that survived the Earthquake, with a painting that includes the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igreja_de_São_Roque_(Lisboa)

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