Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, 18th-century church near Batalha Square, Porto, Portugal
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição is an 18th-century church with an octagonal shape built from granite stone. The structure features two bell towers topped with decorative cornices and spherical masonry ornaments.
Construction began in 1709 after the demolition of an earlier chapel, taking three decades to complete before its opening on July 18, 1739. This long building period reflects the scale and complexity of the project.
The church features decorative azulejo tile panels on its outer walls depicting scenes from the life of Saint Ildefonso. These colorful tiles, added in 1932, create a striking visual display that reflects local artistic traditions.
The church sits next to Batalha Square with direct pedestrian access from the surrounding neighborhood. Regular mass services are held, so plan your visit accordingly if you wish to attend.
Renovation work in 1996 revealed nineteen graves buried beneath the entrance area of the building. These discoveries provide insight into the spiritual importance of the site long before the current church was constructed.
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