PORTUGAL: Churches in Lisbon

There are a LOT of churches in Lisbon. A LOT! 

Not wanting to sound sacrilegious, but, it does become overwhelming and confusing. Especially to someone that by no means professes to be an expert on religion. 

There are two churches that stand out for me me, and for totally different reasons.

The first one is the Jesuit Church - the Sao Roque Church. Built in the 1500's it is one of the world's first Jesuit churches. 

It survived the massive earthquake of 1755 and the following devastation from the fires and tsunami that the earthquake created. 

Then in 1759 the Jesuits were expelled from Portugal. 

The church was then taken over by the Catholics and significant changes were made to the simple style of the Jesuit church. 

What was fascinating for me, was that for such a simple exterior, it hides an over the top interior. 

In Jesuit style, the ceiling is flat, which remains to this day. But look at the detailed painting on the ceiling.

Then, over the centuries, as decorating styles changed, the patrons of the individual chapels "renovated" them to keep up with current decorating trends, baroque and rococo, of the time. 

At the front of the church was the King's chapel, which as to be expected, was the most opulent. 

It is called the Chapel of St John the Baptist and was commissioned by King John V in 1689 to 1750.  It was built in Rome, blessed by the Pope, dismantled and brough to Lisbon in 3 ships to then be reassembled in Lisbon. 

It contains precious decorations, such as lapis lazuli, amethyst, alabaster, agate, and a "little" bit of gold and silver. 

The second church that sticks out for me is the Santo Domingo church. 

The church was built in 1241 and hosted weddings, christenings, etc. 

But it was also the home of an execution of a Jesuit missionary during the Lisbon Massacre. 

Most significant to me was that nature was tough on the church. It was damaged in the 1531 earthquake. It was then rebuilt, but then ruined in the massive 1755 earthquake. It was then rebuilt again.  

There were fires along the way and the church was always rebuilt. But then it had a massive fire in 1959. 

What fascinated me was that after the fire in 1959 it was not rebuilt again. So now, you can still see the ravages of that fire inside the very simple interior.

Two distinctly different churches, yet both serving those who choose to worship within their walls.