Portugal - Lisbon, Igreja de São Roque

Behind the simple facade of the Igreja de São Roque (Church of Saint Roch) hides one of the most decorative churches of Lisbon. It is said that if you can only visit one church in Lisbon, then this church should be the choice.

The Igreja de São Roque was originally a shrine which housed a relic from Saint Roch. He was canonized for his healing of plague victims. King Manuel I of Portugal believed that a relic from Saint Roch would protect Lisbon and he constructed a small shire to house the relic.

The Jesuits made up a large sector of the Roman Catholic church and the Igreja de São Roque became their official home in the latter half of 16th century. Their devotion and money transformed the humble shrine of Sao Roque into one of the most opulent churches of Lisbon. The church was the first Jesuit church in Portugal and one of the earliest anywhere in the world.

Their presence lasted roughly 200 years before they were permanently expelled from Portugal in 1759. The Igreja de São Roque, including the attached buildings and residences were confiscated. Nine years later the property was given to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa a Portuguese charitable organisation, whose original church and administrative buildings were destroyed by the devastating 1755 earthquake (São Roque was one of the few buildings in the centre of the city that wasn’t damaged). This organisation still owns and operates the site today.

The interior of the church - with its varied styles and different types of artworks that including gilt wood, glazed tiles, Florentine mosaics and a ornately painted ceiling - offers four altars and nine chapels. The most significant and beautiful chapel is the Capela de São João Baptista (Saint John the Baptist). The construction was commissioned by King João V in 1742 and is considered being a masterpiece of 18th century European art. The chapel is unique while it was constructed twice: first in Rome to be blessed by Pope Benedict XIV then dismantled, transported to Lisbon and rebuilt in the Igreja de São Roque.

Main picture: Chapel of St. John the Baptist (r) and Chapel of Our Lady of Piety (l)
PiP1: Chapel of St. John the Baptist
PiP2: Chapel of the Most Holy Sacrament
PiP3: Chancel/main altar