Saint Roch Church Portugal

" "

Saint Roch Church is located in Lisboa Portugal and has a deceivingly plain exterior designed by Filippo Terzi. He also designed the Sao Vicente which lies just outside the Alfama quarter. The history of the church is intriguing. St Roch used to lie beyond the walls of Lisboa Portugal in the 16th century cut-off from the rest of the city. It acted as a burial ground for those killed off by the plague because of it’s isolated situation behind the great walls.

The chapel was originally designed and built in Rome in 1742. It took eight years for St. Roch to come to fruition. It was built from some of the most expensive materials found at the time such as alabaster, jade, agate, amethyst and marble. After being blessed by Pope Benedict XIV St. Roch was disassembled and shipped over to Lisbon in pieces.

Shipping the pieces of the Portugal church in it’s entirety cost a fortune but it managed to arrive safely and Saint Roch Church was re-assembled in 1747. The Museu de Sao Roque is adjacent to Saint Roch Church and contains odd chests, devotional items and paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Jesuit preferences are what kept the exterior of the church so plain but the interior is beautiful. When visitors enter the Portugal church there is a lot of space that is adorned with decorations in homage to royal patronage. There is a blend of tile paneling, gold leafing and marble that adds to the scenic impression. The works inside bear significant artistic value and quality such as the Conimbriga ruins do for the Romans. The interior is exceptionally defined when the careful interior lighting is turned on inside the Portugal church.