Description of the attraction
The Church of the Conceção Velha (Immaculate Conception) is located in the Madalena area, near the Praça do Comrécio square. Not far from the Concezan Velha church is the Lisbon Cathedral. It is one of the oldest churches in the country and is an excellent example of the Manueline architectural style that has survived to this day. The church building is, as it were, squeezed between the houses and faces the street.
The church was built at the beginning of the 16th century and was called the Church of Misericordia (Mercy). Earlier on the site of the church there was a synagogue, built in the 15th century. During the Lisbon earthquake in 1755, the church was destroyed, only the portal of the building and one inner chapel survived. The restoration of the church was carried out by the architect Františko Antonio Ferreira. After the reconstruction, the church was renamed the Concezan Velha Church, and the Brotherhood of Mercy moved to the Church of St. Roch.
The church is one-nave, inside there is a presbytery, adjoining to it is a sacristy, from which you can get into the courtyard. The walls of the presbytery are made of marble. The vaulted ceiling is decorated with stucco decorations and the walls are decorated with tiles. There is a baptismal font to the left of the altar and six side chapels. There is also a pulpit. The entrance to the church is crowned with a triangular pediment. The Manueline style is also used in the decoration of the portico - two carved pilasters are striking, which form a large arch above the portico. Above, the portico is decorated with the image of the Virgin Mary with two angels who support her long robe. The mantle of the Virgin Mary covers the kneeling figures of King Manuel I, Queen Eleanor, Pope Alexander VI, and others. You can get inside through double arched doors framed by ornate pilasters. The side windows of the church are decorated with columns depicting the faces of saints.
