Igreja de São Sebastião

Igreja de São Sebastião is a historic church in Lagos, in Portugal's Algarve, classified as a National Monument. It stands in the old part of town and is among the region's oldest religious buildings. It mixes traces of Gothic, Manueline and early Renaissance design, and its best-known curiosity is a bone chapel.

What is the history of Igreja de São Sebastião in Lagos?

The site goes back to the 14th century, when a small hermitage dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Our Lady of the Conception) stood here. Around 1463 a building was raised over that hermitage, and in 1490 it was enlarged and turned into a church. It was then consecrated to Saint Sebastian. The choice of patron was deliberate: people believed the saint would help end the cholera outbreaks that struck repeatedly.

The church has been a National Monument since 1924. Wikipedia lists it simply as a church in Portugal with that classification, and its coordinates, roughly 37.104° N, 8.674° W, place it in central Lagos.

What does the architecture look like?

The church is considered one of the first Renaissance buildings in the Algarve. At the same time it shows the influence of earlier styles, mainly Gothic and Manueline. The interior has three naves divided by arches resting on Doric columns. Several gilded side chapels line the naves, in the style typical of Portuguese church interiors.

The bell tower is a later addition. It was built during the reconstruction that followed the earthquake described below, so it is noticeably younger than the main body of the church.

What is the bone chapel?

The church's most unusual feature is its bone chapel (Capela dos Ossos). It is a rarity in Portugal and one of only three such chapels in the Algarve. The chapel is small, so a visit usually takes only a few minutes, but it leaves a strong impression on anyone who has not seen a place like it before. Visitors describe it as interesting but very small.

How did the church survive earthquakes?

The building was damaged in the great earthquake of 1755, which hit the whole south of Portugal. Reconstruction did not begin until 1858, more than a century later. Another earthquake, in 1969, caused further damage. As a result, the church you see today is the product of several phases of work rather than a single period.

Why visit?

• It is one of the most important religious monuments in Lagos and a classified National Monument.
• It shows the shift from Gothic and Manueline to Renaissance architecture in the Algarve.
• The bone chapel is a rare sight that few places in the country can offer.
• Its central location makes it easy to combine with a walk around the old town.

Frequently asked questions

When was São Sebastião church in Lagos built? A building was raised around 1463 over an earlier hermitage, and in 1490 it was enlarged into a church and consecrated to Saint Sebastian.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes. It has been a National Monument of Portugal since 1924.

What is the most interesting thing inside? The bone chapel, one of three in the Algarve, along with the three-nave interior with Doric columns and gilded side chapels.

Was the church damaged by earthquakes? Yes, in 1755 and again in 1969. Reconstruction after the first began in 1858, and the bell tower dates from that time.

How long does a visit take? The church and its small bone chapel are not large, so a short stop during a walk around Lagos is usually enough.