LISBON CATHEDRAL

Description

Essentials about Lisbon Cathedral in brief

Located just a few meters from the central Praça do Comércio, the Catedral Sé Patriarcal is – as the name suggests – the cathedral of the Patriarchate of Lisbon. Also called “Igreja de Santa Maria Maior”, it is thus the main church of the city of Lisbon. Since its history goes back to the 12th century, the cathedral is also the oldest church in Lisbon and the most important sacred building in all of Portugal. A visit is therefore highly recommended, not only for churchgoers.

The history and architecture of Lisbon Cathedral

After the expulsion of the Moors, Alfonso the Conqueror, the first king of Portugal, had the construction of a church begun in 1147 on the site of an Arab mosque. Thus, the Lisbon Cathedral is not simply a place of worship, but also a symbol of the reconquest of Portugal by the Christians.

Both the exterior and the interior of the cathedral are a mixture of different styles from different historical periods. This is due to the partial destruction of the church throughout history by earthquakes. In 1344, a quake caused damage and in the Great Lisbon Quake of 1755, the cathedral was again severely damaged, including the destruction of the Gothic choir.

During the dictatorship of António de Oliveira Salazar in the 1960s, some corrections were made to the Catedral Sé Patriarcal in order to restore as much as possible the overall Romanesque-Gothic appearance. Among other things, the baroque spires were changed and the window resembling a portal in the west facade was replaced by a rose window.

The interior of the cathedral is also decorated in the Romanesque and Gothic styles, with the Gothic style predominating in the chancel and choir. The ceiling of the church was painted in the Baroque period. The organs also date from this period. The remodeling of some chapels in the styles of Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassicism was reversed in the 20th century.

The highlights of Lisbon Cathedral

One of the highlights of the Lisbon Cathedral is the baptismal font from the 12th century, in which, according to tradition, Saint Anthony was baptized in 1195. Also, in one of the chapels is the 1766 Nativity scene created by Portuguese master Machado de Castro.

For those interested in sacred treasures and relics, a visit to the Cathedral Treasury is also recommended. Here are kept not only ecclesiastical jewelry, but also relics of St. Vincent, the patron saint of Lisbon. The most valuable piece is an ark with the remains of the saint. According to legend, two crows stood vigil on the boat that brought the relics to Lisbon. That is why the coat of arms of the city of Lisbon is also decorated with two crows on a boat.