A World Youth Day, which this year is taking place in the country’s capital, was the perfect excuse for us to create a sort of guide to the main and best-known – and worth visiting – churches in Lisbon.
I’m sure you’re already familiar with our list of most beautiful churches of the city, and also the more modern churches. Now we’ve decided to put them together and add a few more to create the most Christian route in the city.
Table Of Contents
- Lisbon Cathedral
- Church of Remembrance
- Church of São Roque
- Church of St. Anthony
- Church of the Child of God
- Church of São Domingos
- Church of the Mother of God
- Church of São Vicente de Fora
- St. Catherine's Church
- Church of Santa Engrácia
- Church of Our Lady of the Navigators
- Map with churches in Lisbon, and the list for your phone!
Lisbon Cathedral
A Lisbon Cathedral, which is also known as Lisbon Cathedral, is located in the center of the capital, more precisely on the downtown Lisbon.
It is the seat of the Patriarchate of Lisbon and of the Sé Parish. It is one of the most important buildings in the city and was built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style. The cathedral was rebuilt in the 14th century and in the 16th century, after the 1755 earthquake.
Address: Sé Square
Church of Remembrance
A Church of Remembrance is one of the most beautiful in Lisbon. It is a baroque church located in the parish of Ajuda. It was built in the 18th century in memory of an assassination attempt on King José I.
The church is known for its beautiful architecture and richly decorated interior, a testimony to Portugal’s history and culture. It houses the graves of important historical figures, such as the Marquis of Pombal, and although it is far from the main tourist routes, it is well worth a visit.
Address: Sé Square
Church of São Roque
The Church of São Roque is one of the most important churches in Lisbon. It was built in the 16th century and is known for its richly decorated interior with tiles, paintings and sculptures.
It consists of a single nave, a shallow chancel and eight side chapels. This model is traditionally known as a “hall church”. One of the chapels is the Chapel of the Holy Martyrs, which was built in the 17th century to honor the martyrs of the Inquisition.
Address: Largo Trindade Coelho (Chiado/Bairro Alto)
Church of St. Anthony
The Church of Santo António is a baroque church built in the 18th century and dedicated to the city’s patron saint, Santo António de Lisboa, one of Portugal’s most popular saints.
The church is known for its sumptuous interior, with gold and silver altars and statues of saints.
Address: Largo de Santo António da Sé (Santa Maria Maior)
Church of the Child of God
Huge, beautiful and grandiose, this church was built in 1711 (it withstood the great earthquake!), and is known for its richly decorated interior, with tiles, paintings and sculptures.
Baroque in style, it is located in Alfama, near the St. George’s Castle, is often overshadowed by it, but it’s not worth a visit.
Address: Calçada do Menino de Deus (Santa Maria Maior)
Church of São Domingos
The Church of São Domingos is a Gothic church built in the 13th century. It was one of the buildings most damaged by the 1755 earthquake and was rebuilt in the 19th century.
Here you won’t find the traditional gold carvings, but traces of the fire that took place there in 1959. It’s this beauty – different – that makes it one of our favorites.
Address: Largo de São Domingos (Rossio)
Church of the Mother of God
The Igreja da Madre de Deus is a Renaissance church built in the 16th century, known for its interior with tiles, paintings and sculptures.
The church also houses the National Tile Museum, which is one of the most important tile museums in the world.
Address: Rua da Madre de Deus 4 (Madre de Deus)
Church of São Vicente de Fora
The Church of São Vicente de Fora is part of the Monastery with the same name, an extraordinary Mannerist ensemble that began in the last years of the 19th century. XVI where simplicity, symmetry and balance prevail.
On the imposing façade, you’ll find a central body and two side bodies, which correspond to the two bell towers. The interior features carvings, marble, paintings, tiles and a chancel with a baroque altar under a baldachin.
Address: Largo de São Vicente (Alfama)
St. Catherine’s Church
Located in Bairro Alto, the baroque church of Santa Catarina dates back to the 17th century and has suffered greatly from fires and natural disasters.
Many of its details are gilded and it has a beautiful rococo ceiling. His organ was recently restored (in 2018), and we hope to be able to hear him soon!
Address: Calçada do Combro (Santa Catarina)
Church of Santa Engrácia
Better known as National Pantheon, is a must-visit place in Lisbon, being on the route of the viewpoints most incredible views in the city,.
The Church of Santa Engrácia was founded in 1568, but little remains of that structure. It was rebuilt in 1663, only to be destroyed again in the 1755 earthquake. It wasn’t until 1916 that it was given the noble (and somewhat morbid) purpose of being the tomb of great Portuguese personalities.
Address: Campo de Santa Clara (Alfama)
Church of Our Lady of the Navigators
One of the most recent, and also peculiar, churches in Lisbon is in the Parque das Nações, where World Youth Day will also take place. It was inaugurated in 2014 by the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, Manuel Clemente.
The Church of Our Lady of the Navigators has very futuristic features, with a circular architecture that is very different to what we are used to in these buildings, the work of architect José Maria Dias Coelho, who was inspired by Our Lady of the Navigators and the Oceans, the theme of Expo ’98, which gave new life to this part of the city.
Address: Levante Walk 6 (Parque das Nações)
