Description of the attraction
Braga is one of the oldest Christian cities in Europe. Braga is also called "Portuguese Rome" because of the large number of temples and religious sites that are located in the city. In addition, the city is famous for its churches.
The Church of Mercy is located in the Se district, which is part of the Braga district. The church was built in 1562 during the reign of Archbishop Bartolomeu dos Martiris. During the 18th-19th centuries, the appearance of the church was greatly changed. And, despite the changes in the appearance of the church, it is considered the most significant architectural monument of the Renaissance in the city of Braga. The last work in the church was carried out in 1891, in this form we can see the temple today.
The one-nave church has an oblong shape. The facade of the church is made in the Italian Renaissance style. The side entrance is decorated with images of scenes from the life of Christ. These 15th century sculptures are an excellent example of the work of the distinguished masters of the Coimbra school of sculpture.
Inside the church is decorated in the Baroque style. The central altar of the 18th century in the Baroque style was made by Marcelino de Araujo, a famous master of the time, and is decorated with the image of the Virgin Mary of Mercy (1774) by the famous painter Juan Antonio Gonzalez. A painting by the famous painter Jose Lopez also attracts attention here. The walls are decorated with portraits of King João V and his family. G
It is worth noting that the architecture of this temple influenced the appearance of other, later buildings in the northwestern part of Portugal. Since 1977, the Church of Mercy has been on the list of monuments of national importance.
