Igreja Madre de Deus in Lisbon: A Church of Many Stories
The history of Portugal is evident in Portugal’s architecture. One of the structures that embody a significant part of history is Igreja Madre de Deus in Lisbon, a church built in 1509 by order of Queen Leonor.
The church was destroyed by a massive earthquake that shook the country in 1755 and it was later rebuilt and embellished with Baroque architecture. At the present, this historic building is home to the National Azulejo Museum that houses a magnificent collection of artworks.
Some decorations inside the church reflect the life of Queen Leonor and her husband Joao II. For instance, the stone net in the sacristy epitomizes the fishing net that the fishermen used in carrying the dead body of the Queen’s son, Afonso, towards the palace after a tragic incident. Moreover, the plant decorations and the two stone side columns shaped like ropes at the upper ends of the façade are the emblems of Leonor and her husband Joao II.
Igreja Madre de Deus Lisbon’s glorious decorations showcase the best of Baroque Portuguese architecture, with it’s warm golden gilded carving that contrasts with the cool blue and white that cover the steps at the far end of the church.
Igreja Madre de Deus in Lisbon is also the home to one of the citiy’s stupendous museums, “Museu do Azulejo”. Housed in the church grounds since 1980, the museum became the repository of the most important archetype of azulejos (ceramic tiles) from the 15th century. Represented in parts by photographs, which explain the procedure behind tile making, the museum shows how the azulejos from Moorish influences became part of Portugal’s architecture.
As a whole, Igreja Madre de Deus is one of the most interesting churches of Lisbon. The decorations inside the church reflect the life of Queen Leonor and her husband Joao II. Igreja Madre de Deus Portugal’s architectural design shows a bit of the country history, through the combination of Baroque, and later Portuguese architectures. Likewise, its museum displays the Moors’ contribution to the country through the archetype of azulejos, which have become part of the life of the Portuguese.
