You’ve heard the expression “works of Santa Engrácia,” right ? It’s used to describe something that never ends. And it was born right here in Lisbon, in the Campo de Santa Clara area, linked to the lengthy construction of the imposing National Pantheon.
Today, this white stone giant is one of the most photogenic monuments in the capital, but not all Lisboners and visitors remember to go inside. Surrounded by legends and illustrious personalities, today we tell you why it is worth ‘diving’ into the interior and heights of the National Pantheon.
The origin of the expression
Classified as a National Monument since 1910, the first stones of the current National Pantheon building (Church of Santa Engrácia) began to be laid in 1682, with the work only being completed in 1966. In this sense, it is not surprising that the expression “works of Santa Engrácia” emerged to designate any ‘endless’ undertaking.
However, before the National Pantheon existed, there was a church on the same site , built by order of Infanta D. Maria, daughter of King D. Manuel I, which was completely destroyed following a tragedy. And this is where history intersects with legend.
The ‘curse’ of Santa Engrácia
The story goes that in 1630, a young man named Simão Pires Solis was accused and sentenced to death at the stake for a crime he did not commit. The crime in question? The theft of the reliquary of Santa Engrácia.
Fighting for his innocence until his last breath, before dying, Simão Pires Solis is said to have uttered: “It is as certain that I will die innocent as it is that the works will never be finished.”
Whether truth or myth, the fact is that the building was only completely constructed in the second half of the 20th century, after many decades (and even centuries) of waiting!
From marble to the Lisbon sky
If the interior of the marble-clad building surprises you, wait until you climb the steps leading to the dome —one of Lisbon’s best-kept “secrets.”
From the top of the National Pantheon, far from the crowds of tourists at Portas de Sol, you can enjoy a 360º view over the Tagus and Alfama, surpassing even some of the city’s most popular viewpoints.
Who ‘lives’ here?
The National Pantheon was created with the purpose of honoring the most illustrious Portuguese personalities. Writers, artists, and former presidents of the Republic are some of those on its list of honors.
Buried personalities
- Eça de Queiroz, writer
- Amália Rodrigues, fado singer
- Eusébio, soccer player
- Sophia de Mello Breyner, writer
- Humberto Delgado, military officer and politician
- João de Deus, poet
- Guerra Junqueiro, writer
- Aquilino Ribeiro, writer
- Almeida Garrett, writer
- Óscar Carmona, President of the Republic
- Sidónio Pais, President of the Republic
- Teófilo Braga, President of the Republic
- Manuel de Arriaga, President of the Republic
Honored personalities
- Aristides de Sousa Mendes, diplomat
- Luís de Camões, poet
- Pedro Álvares Cabral, navigator
- Infante D. Henrique
- Vasco da Gama, navigator
- Afonso de Albuquerque, former governor of what was then known as Portuguese India
- D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, the Holy Constable
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