Igreja da Misericórdia, Catholic church in Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal.
Igreja da Misericórdia is a Catholic church in Angra do Heroísmo with a rectangular form, two blue towers topped by stone domes, and a central portal bearing the Portuguese royal coat of arms. The interior is organized through six side chapels, each equipped with carved altars dedicated to different saints.
The building was constructed between 1728 and 1746, replacing a 15th-century chapel that served as the first hospital in the Azores. Its construction reflected the growing importance of the city as an administrative and religious center.
The building shows how locals expressed their faith through detailed craftsmanship, with six side chapels dedicated to different saints and carved altars reflecting devotion to mercy and charity. The religious decoration throughout the space reveals the values that shaped the community's spiritual life.
Access is normally available on weekdays, so check opening times in advance before planning a visit. The location in the historic center of the city is easy to reach on foot.
The interior walls are decorated with 18th-century azulejo tiles that show historical scenes and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Virgin. These painted tiles represent an important work of Portuguese ceramic art and tell religious stories through their detailed imagery.
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