Church of Saint Roch

Visiting the Church of Saint Roch (Igreja de São Roque) in Lisbon was an unforgettable experience. From its modest exterior, you could never guess the artistic and historical treasures that lie within.

The church's interior is a breathtaking display of Baroque artistry, with every inch adorned in marbles, gold, precious paintings, and the traditional Portuguese azulejos tiles.

The ceiling painted by Francisco Venegas offers a splendid example of the Mannerist movement, perfectly blending classical architecture with Baroque details.

The church's history, closely tied with the Jesuits and surviving the devastating 1755 Lisbon earthquake, adds layers of depth to the visit, making it not just an artistic journey but a trip through time.

I highly recommend taking the time to explore this hidden gem; its serene and spiritually uplifting atmosphere is truly remarkable.

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 a small shop.

One of the most beautiful churches I've ever been in. It's nothing much to look at from the outside, but I was pleasantly surprised when stepped into the church. There are well-preserved ancient relics, including bones from martyrs on display . It's a must-visit when in Lisbon

Wonderfully decorated church! I love the wooden inlays, the extensive details all over, and it just makes me realize how wonderful the world is. The ceiling is painted with a wonderful rendition of angels and cherubs and is (almost) impossible to capture all with a camera. There's also a paid museum next door.

Absolutely stunning church in Lisbon Portugal...this was by far the most extravagant one we have seen...it also was free to enter which was nice as some charge for a walk through

Magnificent and beautiful church. One of the best parts of my entire trip to Portugal. That's all there is to say.

So beautiful find out time of mass so you can see the whole church but plenty to do around to waste time in needed

Yesterday, we ducked into the Igreja de São Roque for a quick visit. Stepping inside Lisbon's unassuming church, we were struck by the opulent transformation. Rich marble, gilded carvings, and shimmering azulejo tiles adorned every surface. The air hung heavy with incense, and the dim light cast an air of reverence. Though on vacation, it was a special experience to immerse ourselves in the beauty and traditions of a historic Catholic church.

This is one of the very few churches in Lisbon that will not disappoint, and as a matter of fact, even exceed expectations. The plain white neoclassical shell does not betray the sumptuous baroque interior that's as richly decorated as any church that you'll ever see. The place is dripping with gold leaf and decorations of all kinds. Don't miss this one.

One of the most amazing churches in Lisbon lavishly decorated where you can find one of the most expensive chapels in the world,the chapel of Saint John the Baptist. It was constructed in Rome,blessed by the Pope, dismantled and reconstructed again in Lisbon. The pictures are from a behind the scenes tour where you can access all the areas!
My favourite part was getting to see where the paintings in the main altar get changed depending on the liturgical calendar. And also the roof which was the main reason why this church was not destroyed during the infamous 1755 earthquake.

Beautiful church with tons of staff to see inside and to learn a bit the history of Portugal.

This church is absolutely gorgeous! Full of artifacts and relics. I could easily spend hours inside and not see all the amazing art/details. Don't forget to look up and see the murals on the ceiling! It's like stepping into the past!

From the outside, this church may seem slightly boring, but once you go inside you will see the magnificent art it has to offer. Along the sides of the church are these naves which display statues, painting, and gold pieces and a massive painting is shown on the ceiling. I recommend you see this as it is truly beautiful.

One of the most beautiful churches in Lisbon! Definitely worth a visit. There is also a museum attached that is worth checking out as well. For those that celebrate Mass, they do have regular services.

The church does close down in the evening so plan your visit accordingly.

Worth checking out!

The church is amazing. It is one of the few buildings in Lisbon to survive the earthquake relatively unscathed. It is built in the 16th century.

Beautiful church full of treasures. Wonderfully preserved and restored. Super creepy reliquaries with visible body parts of dead people. The museum is worth the few € extra, as it holds the most precious and beautiful world of art. Also, the museum is much quieter and calm than the church. Cliff shop inside the museum. Very calm with interior courtyard.

Beautiful church. Well renovated.

On the outside the church looks really plain but once you get inside there is lots to see. On
The left and right hand sides are sections with different features but the stand alone parts are the gold.
It’s well worth visiting for even a short time to see the inside.

One of the most beautiful churches in Lisbon. You should not miss it if you are around.

The Church of São Roque is one of the most famous and historically significant churches in Lisbon. Its construction began in the 16th century and continued until the 17th century. It is also famous for housing the most precious relic of St Roch(protector against epidemics, patron of the sick and travellers), the bone of his upper limb. This makes the church particularly significant for pilgrims and worshippers who come here to honour the saint.
Apart from the relics of St Roch, the Church of San Roque collects many other relics of saints. In its collection you can find bones, articles of clothing and other sacred artefacts associated with various saints.