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GPS 37.31919516890579, -8.803952326527503

The Igreja da Misericórdia de Aljezur is a religious monument in the village of Aljezur, in the Algarve region of Portugal. Next to the church is the Museum of Sacred Art Monsenhor Francisco Pardal.

Description

The church is located at the top of Rua de São João de Deus, next to the Municipal Museum, in the historic center of Aljezur.

The main façade faces east, being elevated in relation to the street, which is accessed by steps. The façade is topped by a pediment with curved sections, with two pinnacles and an iron cross. It is opened by a portal in the Renaissance style, with a round arch, which bears the date of 1577. Above the portal is a large square window. Attached to the south side is the sacristy, which is accessed through the southeast façade. Above the door, with a straight lintel, there is a framed oculus and then a bell with three spans, with round arches, the whole being topped by a pediment with a counter-curved profile. The North and West facades are blind, the latter being limited by the Museum of Sacred Art. The interior, of great sobriety, is arranged in a single nave with a high altar, covered in a barrel vault. The triumphal arch has a perfect back with corbels, being equally renaissance. The main altarpiece was made of polychrome wood, simulating marble, with volutes decorated in gilded carving, in the Baroque style, but showing signs of transition to Rococo. In the center is a canvas representing the Visitation. The tabernacle has a small door with a round arch, and is topped by a curved pediment, while the altar pediment is painted in golden colors with floral decoration.

Inside there is also a pulpit and a tribune, both from 1773, with a wooden bench bearing the coat of arms of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia. It has three images, Nossa Senhora da Soledade, Santa Isabel and Santa Maria Madalena, all in the type of rock statue. Also of special interest are the cult implements, including a silver chalice with paten, and two damask chasuble vestments, one from the 17th century and the other from the 18th century.

History

It is not known for sure what year the church was built, A Misericórdia was founded between 1498 and 1527, the date of construction of the church is not known for sure, although the main portal displays the date of 1577. In the Historical-Statistical Relation From 1827, there is a reference to a royal provision that had been passed in 1527, which authorized the Misericórdia to build a church in the village. The church was badly hit by the 1755 earthquake, having been rebuilt between 1755 and 1756. Major works were carried out in 1773, when the tribune for the brethren and the pulpit were installed, and the tiling was done, and in 1821, when it was rebuilt from the main altar, eliminating the original, in a dressing room.

In 1998, the main altarpiece was painted, by Pedro Girão. Around 2000, the Monsignor Manuel Francisco Pardal Museum of Sacred Art was inaugurated, which reused the former facilities of the Hospital da Misericórdia, adjacent to the church.