Igreja da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Aljezur, Church in Aljezur, Portugal
The Igreja da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Aljezur is a modest church in the town of Aljezur, in southwestern Portugal, connected to the local charitable institution of the same name. Inside, a single nave leads to a baroque wooden altar, accompanied by a pulpit, a carved bench bearing the Misericórdia coat of arms, and a set of statues and silver objects from past centuries.
The church was built between the late 15th and early 16th centuries, with a Renaissance doorway dated 1577 still standing today. The 1755 earthquake caused serious damage, leading to several rounds of repair and rebuilding, including a renewed high altar completed in 1821.
The Igreja da Santa Casa da Misericórdia has long been tied to local charity, as the institution it belongs to traditionally cared for the sick and the poor. Friday morning masses still draw residents from Aljezur, keeping the building rooted in the daily life of the town.
The church sits on Rua S. João de Deus in Aljezur and is open to visitors during Friday morning masses, except on the second Friday of each month. For visits outside of mass times, the nearby Museum of Sacred Art can be contacted, as it also holds objects from the church collection.
Among the objects inside the church is a silver chalice from the 17th century, one of the oldest items still belonging to the institution. The carved wooden bench bearing the Misericórdia coat of arms once served the head of the brotherhood and is a rare piece of its kind in the Algarve.
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