Basílica Da Estrela

The Basílica da Estrela stands at the top of one of Lisbon's western hills, facing the Jardim da Estrela, and its white dome is visible from many parts of the city. It was built as the result of a promise. Queen Maria I vowed to build a church if she gave birth to a son and heir, and after the birth of Prince José in 1761 the royal family planned the basilica. Construction took place from the late 1770s and was finished in 1790, in a time when Lisbon was being rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1755. The architects were Mateus Vicente de Oliveira and Reinaldo Manuel dos Santos, and the style is a late form of Baroque with neoclassical features. The prince himself died of smallpox in 1788, before the church was finished.

The facade is imposing, with two bell towers, statues of saints and allegorical figures, and a central pediment decorated with the royal arms. Above rises a tall dome, one of the largest in Lisbon, and a lantern. The church is notable as one of the first in the world to be dedicated to the Sacred Centre of Jesus, a devotion that was growing in popularity, and the theme is reflected in the sculptures. The setting, beside a quiet garden with a bandstand and a pond, adds to its dignified look, and the old trams of line 28 pass close by.

Inside, the nave is clad in coloured marble, with pink, yellow, and black stones forming patterns on the walls and floor, and large altarpieces with paintings by Italian and Portuguese artists, including Pompeo Batoni. The tomb of Queen Maria I lies in the transept, a simple but impressive monument to a monarch who died in Brazil in 1816 and whose remains were later brought home. Light falls through the dome onto the marble and gives the interior a luminous quality.

One of the highlights is the nativity scene, or presépio, in a side chapel. Made in the 18th century by the sculptor Joaquim Machado de Castro, it is composed of hundreds of small figures in cork and terracotta, showing a lively scene with townspeople, shepherds, and animals. It is one of the most celebrated works of its kind in Portugal. Visitors can also climb to the roof terrace for views of the dome and the rooftops of Lisbon.

Entrance to the church is usually free, and it is a working church, so dress modestly. It suits art lovers, architecture enthusiasts, and families interested in the nativity scene. Combine it with a walk in the garden.