Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Resgate das Almas

Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Resgate das Almas is a small Rococo chapel in Lisbon's Arroios district, at the end of Rua dos Anjos. Built in 1762, it is still open for worship. It is a worthwhile stop if you are curious about Lisbon's rebuilding after the great 1755 earthquake and about eighteenth-century church decoration.

How did the chapel come about?

Its origins lie with the brotherhood of Nossa Senhora do Resgate das Almas and Senhor Jesus dos Perdidos, founded in 1755 by a Dominican friar, Fr. Inocêncio. In 1759 the brotherhood received royal confirmation from King José I, and the image of its patron was made and placed in the parish church of Anjos. The chapel itself went up in 1762 on land donated by the parents of D. Maria Joana Cardoso Soeiro. It was meant as a memorial to an earlier temple at Largo de Santa Bárbara, damaged or destroyed in the earthquake. In 1765 the patron image was moved into the chapel, which by then was practically finished.

What will you see inside?

The interior follows a uniform Rocaille style, dating from close to the time of construction. Azulejo tiles share the walls with gilded carved woodwork (talha). The gilded main altarpiece is crowned by a baldachin sheltering an image of Nossa Senhora da Piedade dating from 1759. Tiles combined with gilt wood are a hallmark of Lisbon's religious interiors from this period.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The chapel stands at the end of Rua dos Anjos on its eastern side, above the former Regueirão stream. Coordinates are roughly 38.7252 N, 9.1360 W. It lies in the central Arroios parish, so it is easy to reach on foot from nearby squares or by metro.

Frequently asked questions

Is the chapel still in use? Yes, it remains open for worship. Opening hours can be limited, so check before visiting.

When was it built? In the mid-eighteenth century; construction was completed in the 1760s in the Rococo style.

Why was it built? As a memorial to another temple at Largo de Santa Bárbara that suffered in the 1755 earthquake, and as a home for the Resgate das Almas brotherhood.

Is it worth a visit? It is a short stop, but for admirers of azulejos, woodcarving and post-1755 Lisbon history it is well worth it.