Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia, Catholic church in Cascais, Portugal
The Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia is a Catholic church in the historic center of Cascais, Portugal, situated on Largo da Misericórdia. It has a single nave, two small circular side chapels, a main altar with old paintings, and an adjoining sacristy that now serves as a museum space.
The church was founded in the 16th century, originally occupying a small chapel called the Ermida de Santo André. After the 1755 earthquake damaged the building, a new structure in the neoclassical style was built between 1759 and 1781, though some parts remained unfinished for many years.
The church takes its name from the Misericórdia, a type of Portuguese brotherhood that historically cared for the poor and the sick. The building still serves as an active place of worship, and Sunday masses draw local residents to its single nave.
The church is located in the heart of Cascais and is easy to reach on foot from most points in the town center. It is open Tuesday through Sunday, and closed on Mondays.
The sacristy holds a gold-plated custodia from the late 16th or early 17th century, one of the rarest pieces of goldsmithery of its type in the region. The church also keeps four painted panels from the original altarpiece, dating from the late 16th century, with strong colors typical of that period.
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