Churches in Portugal

Discover 10 unusual churches in Portugal.

Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Aracelis

Corte Pequena, Portugal

Capela de Nossa Senhora de Aracelis

Before this rocky hill was home to a chapel, it was used as a lookout by Romans and Moors.

Raposeira, Portugal

Seminário de Santa Teresinha

A devasting 2020 fire left this historic seminary in ruins.

Entrance of the church.

Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Santuário de Santa Luzia

An icon of the city, this chapel features an amazing dome ceiling and offers panoramic views.

Santuario de Nossa Senhora da Peneda

São Bento do Canto, Portugal

Santuario de Nossa Senhora da Peneda

This chapel is the site of a yearly pilgrimage that originated during the Middle Ages.

Church Sagrado Coração

Lisbon, Portugal

Church Sagrado Coração

Tucked away inside this concrete building is a church and its grand display of brutalist architecture.

It's easy to miss the house wedged between these churches.

Porto, Portugal

Carmo and Carmelitas Churches

A hidden three-foot-wide house separates these two regal churches.

Interior details.

Porto, Portugal

Igreja de São Francisco

The stunning interior of this Gothic church is covered in ornate gold details.

Capella de Nossa Senhora das Vitórias.

São Miguel, Portugal

Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias

This fairy-tale, neo-Gothic church in the Azores is a world of magical realism.

The famous facade and portal to the church.

Lisbon, Portugal

Jerónimos Monastery

Elaborately carved to showcase the glorious wealth that the age of exploration brought to the Portuguese empire.

Lisbon, Portugal

Santíssima Trindade Church

This oddly shaped church resembles a rocket.

Staring up at the chapel from the bottom of Bom Jesus do Monte's tiered stairs

Braga, Portugal

Bom Jesus do Monte

A stunning 18th-century site where pilgrims ascend by a series of punishing stairs only to return via funicular.

Igreja de São Francisco Catacombs

Porto, Portugal

Igreja de São Francisco Catacombs

Ancient catacombs form the foundation for this Rococo orgy of a church.