Apr 28 2008
Church of St. Anthony
The Church of Saint Anthony also called as Igreja de Santo Antonio in Portuguese. This historical church is located in Lagos in Algarve. This was built before the earthquake in 1755 and then was rebuilt after. This is one of the structures that have survived the earthquake. In 1924, this church was declared as a National Monument. The date of the construction of this church is unknown, some would say that it was built during the reign of Joao I in 1383-1433 yet some say it was during the reign of Joao V in 1706-1750.
The Igreja de Santo Antonio structure is from the eighteenth century, its exterior is plain yet its interior is lavishly decorated. The dome of this church was installed after the earthquake in 1755. This church has blue and white glazed tile and its falha dourada or its woodened carvings on the walls of the nave are one of the most beautiful carvings in Portugal. There are also six paintings that depict the miracles of Saint Anthony on the walls. These paintings are Baroque paintings and were painted by Mestre Jose Joaquim Rasquinho. You will also find polychrome statues of the cherubs around the church and the statue of Saint Anthony with a military sash on the altar.
You can visit this church daily except for Mondays; they are open from nine thirty in the morning to twelve thirty in the afternoon and resumes at two in the afternoon to five in the afternoon. You can only have access to the church through the museum, the Museu Municipal. The museum is just right next to the church, it has exhibits of unique artefacts like grave markers which are from the sixteenth century and some church robes and many more. You can find the church and the museum at the Rua General Alberto Silveira on the south of Praca da Republica.