Lisbon - Igreja de Sao Roque

The chapel of Sao Joao Baptista, the last chapel added to Igreja de Sao Roque in Lisbon, and dedicated to John the Baptist is not to be missed.

The history of the development of this work of art designed in the Italian Baroque style is extraordinary: Joao V, wasteful and pious, ordered it from Rome in 1740. From 1742 it was constructed by the architects Luigi Vanvitelli and Nicola Salvi and finally blessed by the pope. In 1747 it was taken to pieces and transported by ship to Lisbon, where it was carefully reconstructed. A further two years passed before its completion and installation.

As at this time Portugal had the goldmines of Brazil at its disposal, the king thought that he would not have to restrict himself financially; on the other hand he financed the necessary construction of the Aqueduto das Águas Livres through taxes. The king only had the most valuable materials imported: agate, alabaster, ivory, gold, silver and jewels.

The pillars are made of lapis lazuli, the angels of Carrara marble, the altar front of amethyst, for the woodwork precious woods were used exclusively, for the most part from Brazil.

The pictures ("Christ's Baptism", "Easter" and "Annunciation") as well as the floor are created from mosaic stones.

The oldest of the side chapels is dedicated to St Roches. It dates from the second half of the 16th C.; in 1584 Franciscode Matos created the tiles depicting St Roches.

The side picture "The Angel appears to St Roches" is considered to be one of the most important works of Gaspar Dias.

Immediately next to the Igreja de Sao Roque, the Museu de Arte Sacra is housed in the former Misericórdia old people's home and orphanage. Included among the exhibits is wonderful Italian gold work, some 17th C. paintings as well as fine priests' vestments.