Igreja da Misericórdia

Igreja da Misericórdia

It was at the end of the 15th century that King D. Manuel decided to build a church to the confraternity of the Holy House of Mercy in Oporto, which had already been instituted in Lisbon. This first one would have traits of Late Gothic and Renaissance. Of this first church remains the high altar, which is inspired in part by the altar section of the Jeronimo’s monastery.

Already in 17th century, the church is restored and interior lined with tiles from Lisbon, of which few remain. In the following century, the church that threatened ruin was rebuilt with the help of Nicolau Nasoni, which is the one that reaches us today with one of the most scenic façades in the whole of Oporto. Its style has traces of the baroque and rococo, and the interior also has some neoclassical.

In 2015, the Oporto Misericórdia Museum was opened in the building that was its headquarters until years before, and there was an opening to the public of the treasury of mercy, and part of the exhibition became the choir, nave and other parts of the church, now also possible to visit.