Misericordia Church - Viana do Castelo

The building of the Misericordia and the church date from the 16th century.

The originality of this building is due to its secular character, since the chapel, although connected, was independent, housing the hospital and the management of the Santa Casa.

The Confraria da Misericórdia (Brotherhood of Mercy), founded in 1520, developed so quickly that in the second quarter of the 16th century they began construction of the "Casa das Varandas" . The building from 1589 was designed by João Lopes o Moço. It is a unique example of civil architecture with Renaissance and Mannerist elements, and Italian and Flemish influences.

In 1716, renovation work on the church began, under the direction of the military architect Manuel Pinto de Vilalobos from Viana.

The interior of the church is richly decorated as was customary at the time. Examples of this are the altarpieces in typical Portuguese gilded woodwork by Ambrósio Coelho, the tile panels by Policarpo de Oliveira Bernardes or the frescoes on the ceiling, by Manuel Gomes with medallions representing the Holy Trinity, the Assumption of Our Lady and the Flight into Egypt . It is undoubtedly one of the best examples of Portuguese Baroque.

Willem Vandenameele