Igreja do Menino Deus, Baroque church in Santa Maria Maior, Lisbon, Portugal.
Igreja do Menino Deus is a Baroque church featuring a two-story stone facade with composite order columns and three empty niches on the upper level. The structure demonstrates formal proportions and symmetrical design typical of its architectural period.
King João V and Queen Mariana de Áustria commissioned the church in 1711 to be built. The building survived the major earthquake of 1755 but experienced significant fires in 1807 and 1847.
Inside, eight chapels feature gilded carvings and works by Portuguese painters André Gonçalves and Francisco Vieira Lusitano. These artworks shaped how locals experienced worship and remain visible in their original placements today.
The church is located at Calçada do Menino de Deus 27 in central Lisbon and sits near several historic landmarks throughout the Santa Maria Maior district. The area is easily walkable, and visitors can explore other historical sites in the neighborhood on foot.
The ceiling displays an unusual composition depicting the Apotheosis of Saint Francis arranged in a geometric plan shaped as a rectangle with cut angles forming an irregular octagon. This rare geometric design creates a striking visual effect that sets the interior apart from typical church ceilings.
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