Basilica of Our Lady of the Martyrs, Lisboa

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Martyrs (Basílica de Nossa Senhora dos Mártires) is a Catholic church in Lisbon's Chiado district, on the corner of Rua Garrett and Rua Serpa Pinto. It blends Baroque and late Neoclassical elements and stands as a good example of religious architecture from the Pombaline rebuilding of the city.

Where does the church come from?

Tradition dates its origins to 1147. King Afonso Henriques is said to have founded a church in thanks for the capture of Lisbon from the Moors after the siege of São Jorge Castle, dedicating it to those who died fighting for the city. Legend has it that the king laid the first stone himself. The site was meant to house an image of the Virgin Mary brought by English crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. The name recalls the fallen of that battle.

The earthquake and the new church

The Baroque church that stood here earlier was largely destroyed in the great earthquake of 1755. The present building was designed by the Portuguese architect Reinaldo Manuel dos Santos and dates from 1784. Built during the capital's reconstruction, it reflects its era with restrained, orderly forms rather than lavish Baroque ornament.

What to see inside

The interior has a single nave flanked by eight side chapels. On the ceiling, look for the painting by Pedro Alexandrino de Carvalho showing the dedication of the church to Our Lady of the Martyrs. The baptismal font also survived the earthquake. In it, in 1888, the poet Fernando Pessoa was baptised, one of Portugal's most celebrated writers, born nearby in Lisbon.

Planning a visit

The church sits in the heart of Chiado, steps from Rua Garrett, one of the city's best-known shopping and café streets. It pairs easily with a stroll through the neighbourhood's bookshops, theatres and terraces overlooking Baixa. A visit is usually short, but it suits anyone interested in Lisbon after 1755 or in Pessoa's literary trail.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the basilica? In the Chiado district of Lisbon, on Rua Garrett at the corner of Rua Serpa Pinto, in the parish of St Mary.

When was the current building constructed? It dates from 1784, after the earlier church was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake.

What style is it? A mix of Baroque and late Neoclassical, in the context of the Pombaline rebuilding of Lisbon.

Is it linked to Fernando Pessoa? Yes. The poet was baptised in its font in 1888.

Who designed the present church? The Portuguese architect Reinaldo Manuel dos Santos.

How many side chapels are there? Eight, along a single nave.