Church of Saint Roch — Attraction in Lisbon

Igreja de São Roque (free entry) is probably amongst if not the most beautiful church in Lisbon. Combined with the adjacent Museu de São Roque (€2.50), this is a rewarding place to visit for an hour or so during visits to Lisbon. Opening Hours 9am to 6pm daily (2-6pm on Mondays).

Historically, São Roque is the earliest Jesuit church in Portugal being originally built in the 16th century. Unfortunately, a turbulent past saw the Jesuit Order expelled from Portugal for nearly two centuries. The church was passed over to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (the Charity House of Lisbon) after the 1755 earthquake and continues to function as part of this organisation to this day.

The exterior of Igreja de São Roque is modest and simple. It is pleasant to see on the quaint little square of Largo Trindade Coelho but does little to prepare you for the opulent Baroque style interior, typical of Jesuit churches you may have seen in places like Vienna and Rome.

The nave features a beautiful ceiling fresco in front of a decorative altar. Side chapels are very impressive to see as well. In particular, you will want to see the front left - Chapel of St. John the Baptist (1742-1750), which was constructed in Rome before being shipped to Igreja de São Roque.

This is a richly decorated chapel, believed to have been the most expensive chapel ever constructed in Europe at its time. Viewing the decadent Baroque and Rococo chapel, it is easy to believe this to be true. Note, important treasures from this chapel are now on display inside Museu de São Roque next door to the church.

Beyond the attractive chapels, the nave wall murals are nice complements to the Trompe l'oeil ceiling fresco. A quick visit to the Sacristy, just left of the main alter is worth a few minutes as well. This room features gallery scenes depicting the travels and missionary of St. Francis Xavier, particularly his time in Asia.

In all, even for a short visit, best to allow 20 minutes or so to see browse through the church leisurely. Spend more time if you have it to spare.

Note: Do also allow another 20-30 minutes for the attached museum, which houses artworks, antiquities and other precious possessions accumulated by the church and Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa over the centuries. It makes for equally rewarding sightseeing.

Note: Igreja de São Roque is perhaps a 6-7 minute walk from Igreja do Carmo, another worthwhile church and museum visit in this part of Lisbon. Given their proximity, it makes sense to combine visits to these attractions.

Note: Photography is allowed throughout the church and the museum...

Having visited churches and cathedrals all over Europe, I would say that the Igreja de São Roque (the Church of Saint Roch) is one of the most elaborately decorated. The wooden ceiling is colourfully painted with angels and cherubs and fancy scrolls. The roof painting also includes two fake domes. The main body of the church is completely open, there being no pillars to support the roof. On both sides of the nave there are a series of small chapels deeply recessed into the side walls. These are very ornately decorated with designs heavily carved from wood and then covered with gold leaf or gold paint. This is supplemented with marble and some of the chapels feature large and heavily framed oil paintings. High above these side chapels, large paintings also hang on the walls.

The original church on this site was built starting in 1506. It was a shine to host a relic of Saint Roch in the belief that it would protect the people of Lisbon from the plague which was sweeping through southern Europe at that time. In 1555 the church was re-built as the Main House of the Society of Jesus, which had been founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in 1534. This was in part a counter balance by the Catholic Church to the austerity advocated by Martin Luther and the Protestants. The elaborate ornamentation of the Jesuit churches is in marked contrast to the simplicity and plain designs of the Protestant churches.  The Church of Saint Roch has been modified and added to many times since 1555, but its decoration is still very rich, impressive and beautiful. One can only imagine how awed were the ordinary people of Lisbon when entering such a building.

Visitors can enter the church free of charge. The exit for visitors takes you into the adjacent building which is the Museum of São Roque. There you have the choice to exit back into the street or pay €2.50 to visit the Museum. Entry to the Museum is free on Sundays and free at all times for children up to 14 and adults over 65. It is well worth the modest entry fee and takes about an hour or maybe a little more to see everything. All the exhibits are accompanied by explanations and historical context on adjacent display panels which are printed in Portuguese and English. There are good toilet facilities, free WiFi and...

I had a truly enriching visit to the Church and Museum of São Roque in Lisbon. From the outside, the church appears quite modest, but the interior is absolutely stunning and filled with opulent decoration, including intricate wood carvings, gilded altars, and beautifully detailed chapels. The Chapel of St. John the Baptist especially caught my attention—it was built in Rome with the finest materials like lapis lazuli and marble, and then transported to Lisbon, making it one of the most expensive chapels ever constructed in Europe. The adjoining museum adds even more depth to the experience, housing an impressive collection of religious art, relics, vestments, and sacred objects that span several centuries. Everything is well displayed and accompanied by clear information, making it easy to understand the significance of each piece. The atmosphere was peaceful and respectful, ideal for quiet contemplation or learning. Entry to the museum is reasonably priced and well worth it for the quality and historical value of the exhibits. Whether you're interested in art, architecture, or Portuguese history, this place offers a beautiful and meaningful visit that I...