Memória Church

Church of Our Lady of Deliverance and Saint Joseph (Memória Church)

The Memória Church, in Ajuda, was commissioned by King José I as a votive offering for surviving, on 3 September 1758, an attack on the spot attributed to the Távora family. The first stone was laid and blessed on 16 September 1760, to a design by the Italian architect Giovanni Carlo Bibiena, later continued by Mateus Vicente de Oliveira. The country's economic difficulties slowed the work, which was still under way in 1785, and the two main bells were blessed in 1788. Built entirely of limestone ashlar, it has a Latin-cross plan, a façade with a triangular pediment, a bell tower at the rear and a large dome over the crossing, with an interior marked by blue and pink panelled decoration. In 1923 the remains of the Marquis of Pombal were transferred to the church. It has been a National Monument since 1923. After serving as a granary, it was returned to worship in 1948 and reopened to the public in 1951, and is assigned to the Patriarchate of Lisbon. We found no opening times published by an official source; they should be confirmed before visiting.

Located at: Património Cultural (SIPA)
Address: Largo da Memória, 1300-402 Lisboa
Opening hours: Opening times not published by an official source (confirm before visiting)
Coordinates: 38.702973, -9.2019794
Buses: 727, 79B, 76B, 729, 732, 771, 742, 760, 728
Tram: 18E
Train: Cascais Line, Belém Station
Opened: 1760 (266 years)