Igreja de São Domingos

(Convento de São Domingos de Lisboa / Igreja Paroquial de Santa Justa / Igreja de Santa Justa e Rufina)

History

The foundation stone of the Dominican convent was laid in 1214 and it was largely completed by 1251. However it has suffered a number of catastrophes in its 800 year history including floods in 1343, 1384 and 1492 and almost total destruction in an earthquake of 1531. 

After complete rebuilding it housed 100 friars by  the late 16th century and achieved notoriety as the headquarters of the Inquisition.

The convent was largely ruined again in the 1755 earthquake and suffered the loss of many treasures, books and manuscripts in the fires that followed the initial tremors. 

The rebuilt complex survived for a further 200 years before being devastated in a fire of 1959. The Baroque interior and furnishings were completely destroyed leaving the church as a roofless shell. 

Functional repairs in 1992 enabled the building to reopen.

Description

The first time visitor to São Domingos, even one who knows in advance the building's history, will inevitably feel a sense of shock and awe when entering the church. The facade, like so many of Lisbon's churches, gives nothing away. 

Some guidebooks refer to a restoration or renovation after the 1959 fire but, in essence, no attempt was made to return the church to its previous appearance. A new roof was added but the ravaged interior remains much as it was in the aftermath of the fire. There are some modern plaster saints of dubious artistic and aesthetic value but, in reality there is now very little to see.

However what we do have is a wonderfully atmospheric building which is clearly much loved by the Lisbon faithful. With seven masses each weekday and more lit candles than all the rest of the city centre churches combined, this is very much a thriving parish. It is certainly not a beautiful building in the same way that São Roque is beautiful but São Domingos possesses a spirituality that some of the restored Baroque masterpieces lack.

Access

Largo de São Domingos, Baixa 

Rossio railway station
Rossio or Restauradores Metro

Open: 7:30 - 19:00

Masses:
Weekdays, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 18:00

Sundays: 8:00, 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 18:00