Igreja de Santa Catarina

Igreja de Santa Catarina is a Baroque church in Lisbon, also known as the Igreja dos Paulistas, the church of the Paulist convent. It stands on Calçada do Combro in the Misericórdia parish, and its interior counts among the richest examples of religious Baroque in the city.

Where is the church?

The church sits in central Lisbon on Calçada do Combro, in the Misericórdia parish, at roughly 38.711 N, 9.148 W. Several names refer to it: Igreja de Santa Catarina, Igreja dos Paulistas, Igreja do Convento dos Paulistas and Igreja Paroquial de Santa Catarina. All describe the same building.

How did it come to be built?

Father Frei Diogo da Ponte founded it in 1647 as part of a convent for the hermits of the Order of St Paul of Serra d'Ossa, which explains the "Paulistas" name. It rose on the site of the earlier church of Santa Catarina dos Livreiros, which had been destroyed. Construction began in 1654.

What happened in 1755?

The great Lisbon earthquake of 1755 seriously damaged the church. Reconstruction was completed in 1763, so what visitors see today reflects rebuilding after the disaster, not only the work of the original seventeenth-century builders.

A change of role in the nineteenth century

In 1835 the former convent church became a parish church under the name Santa Catarina. That is the origin of the official name, used alongside the popular name Paulistas.

What is there to see inside?

The interior is considered one of the richest and most varied examples of Baroque religious architecture in Lisbon. Notable artists worked on it:

• sculptor Santos Pacheco de Lima,
• painters André Gonçalves and Francisco Vieira de Matos, known as Vieira Lusitano,
• stucco artists João Grossi and Toscanelli.

The blend of sculpture, painting and stucco decoration makes the visit worthwhile, even if the exterior looks modest among the surrounding city buildings.

Is it a protected monument?

Yes. Igreja de Santa Catarina has been classified as a National Monument of Portugal since 1918.

Frequently asked questions

Is Igreja de Santa Catarina the same as Igreja dos Paulistas? Yes. They are two names for the same Lisbon church; the second refers to the Paulist order that founded a convent beside it.

When was the church built? It was founded in 1647, construction began in 1654, and reconstruction after the 1755 damage finished in 1763.

Is it a parish church? Yes. Since 1835 it has served as a parish church dedicated to Saint Catherine.

What style is the interior? Baroque. It is regarded as one of the richest and most varied Baroque religious interiors in Lisbon.

Is the church protected? Yes, it has been a National Monument since 1918.

Before you go, check current opening hours, since the church serves parish functions and may also host cultural events.