🔹 ⛪️ 🔹 Zabytki Algarve. Kościół Sao Lourenco w Almancil

Meeting traditional Portuguese architecture

The São Lourenço Church is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Almancil, in the Loulé municipality. Constructed in the first half of the 18th century, it stands as one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in the Algarve region.

The interior of the church is richly adorned with stuccoes, frescoes, and azulejos – traditional hand-painted ceramic tiles.

The church was built in the first half of the 18th century as a result of a wave of religious revival that swept through Portugal after the 1755 earthquake. The architect behind the construction was Manuel Fernandes da Silva. Construction began in 1730 and was completed in 1750. In the 20th century, it underwent several renovations. The most significant of these was initiated due to the earthquake in 1969 when almost all the original tiles were removed to repair cracks in the walls and the substrate to which they were attached.

Beautifully decorated traditional Portuguese tiles azulejos

Today, the church is particularly renowned for the aforementioned azulejos, which, due to their characteristic shade of blue, impart an almost heavenly atmosphere to the interior. The combination with gold used in the decorations and the altar creates an incredibly dignified ambiance.

Zabytki Algarve. Kościół Sao Lourenco W Almancil

The ceramic tiles cover the walls and ceiling of the church, depicting religious, allegorical, and historical scenes, including episodes from the life of St. Lawrence, the Roman martyr who was burned at the stake for opposing the persecution of Christians. They were crafted in the 18th century by Policarpo de Oliveira Bernardes, one of the most outstanding Portuguese masters of azulejos. They are truly magnificent...

When you purchase your ticket, you will be informed that you are NOT allowed to take pictures! Any form of visual recording is prohibited...