Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia de Sintra

Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia de Sintra is a church in the historic centre of Sintra, tied to the charitable brotherhood that has operated here since the mid-16th century. It stands in the parish of Santa Maria e São Miguel, São Martinho e São Pedro de Penaferrim, at roughly 38.797 N, 9.390 W.

How did this church come about?

The Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Sintra was founded in 1545 on the initiative of Queen Catherine, wife of King John III. The king attached to it the former leper house (gafaria) and the Hospital of the Holy Spirit. The church was built close to that hospital, so care for the sick and worship stood side by side.

What is inside?

In 1581 the brotherhood signed a contract with the painter Cristóvão Vaz for the main altarpiece, made of eight panels arranged in three vertical sections. Around 1583 the same painter produced works for two side altarpieces. Painted panels showing the Adoration of the Magi and the Resurrection of Christ still hang on the walls of the nave. They are the church's most valuable trace of Renaissance painting.

In the 17th century the interior was redecorated. Azulejo tiles were added in the nave and chapel, along with a balustrade. Around 1700 the old main altarpiece was replaced by a Baroque one in carved wood. The earlier Renaissance altarpiece went to the Misericórdia of Colares.

The 1755 earthquake and afterwards

The 1755 earthquake badly damaged the church, and repairs followed. Over the centuries the Sintra Misericórdia also built up a collection of archives and artworks, including documents from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

Why visit?

• It shows how religion and social welfare worked together in a Renaissance Portuguese town.
• You can see 16th-century painted panels and 17th-century azulejos.
• The Baroque carved altarpiece from around 1700 lets you compare two styles in one interior.
• It sits in central Sintra, so it fits easily into a walk past the town's other landmarks.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded the brotherhood behind the church? It was founded in 1545 on the initiative of Queen Catherine, wife of John III.

Who painted the original main altarpiece? The 1581 contract for the main altarpiece was with Cristóvão Vaz.

What remains of the Renaissance paintings? Panels of the Adoration of the Magi and the Resurrection of Christ remain on the nave walls.

Did the 1755 earthquake destroy the church? It caused serious damage, but the building was repaired.

Where did the first altarpiece go? Around 1700 it was given to the Misericórdia of Colares, and a Baroque altarpiece was installed in Sintra.