Church of Santa Engrácia, National mausoleum in São Vicente district, Lisbon, Portugal.
The Church of Santa Engrácia is a white stone structure with an octagonal floor plan and a large dome that floods the interior with light. The building commands attention in the São Vicente skyline through its distinctive shape and scale.
Construction of the original church began in 1682 but was interrupted by numerous delays that stretched across centuries. In 1916 the building was transformed into a national resting place for important Portuguese figures.
The pantheon holds tombs of Portuguese figures whose names are engraved in stone throughout the interior. These names represent poets, explorers, and musicians who shaped Portuguese history and memory.
Access from the hill involves some stairs, but once inside the layout is straightforward to navigate. Clear signage and staff are available to direct you toward the main burial sites.
The building's prolonged construction inspired a Portuguese saying still used today to describe projects that drag on indefinitely. The phrase 'obras de Santa Engrácia' lives on in everyday conversation.
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