Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Fátima, Lisbon
The Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Fátima (Church of Our Lady of Fátima) in Lisbon was Lisbon's first modernist church.
The church was the work of Porfírio Pardal Monteiro, a pioneer of modernist architecture in Portugal.
The church is full of superb works of art by many famous sculptors and painters of the time including António da Costa, José de Almada Negreiros, Leopoldo de Almeida, Pedro Anjos Teixeira, and Barata Feyo.
History
The church was part of an modernist overhaul of the capital by Duarte Pacheco, the minister of public works under Salazar and the New State (Estado Novo) regime and also a popular mayor of Lisbon.
Pacheco working with architects such as Porfírio Pardal Monteiro oversaw such works as the construction of Portela Airport, the National Stadium (Estádio Nacional) - inspired somewhat by the Olympiastadion in Berlin, the Biblioteca Nacional, Cais do Sodre Station and the Diário de Notícias headquarters on Avenida da Liberdade.
In 1933 the Church of São Julião (now part of the Money Museum in the Bank of Portugal building) was sold to the bank. The money raised financed the building of a new church with Art Deco elements near the Gulbenkian Foundation.
The new church was renamed the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Fátima in reference to the Basilica de Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Fátima in Fátima.
Upon completion the church saw a clash between traditionalists who viewed the reinforced concrete building as "not Portuguese enough" and modernists.
Pardal Monteiro was supported by the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon who said in a memorable quote: "All forms of art in the past were modern in relation to their time." Indeed, the building won the Valmor Prize for architecture when the church was consecrated in 1938 after four years of work.
The church has three naves and can hold up to 800 worshipers. There are no pillars to obscure the view of the altar.
Interior Art
The interior is quite breath-taking. Contemporary artists such as Almada Negreiros (the stained glass windows), Leopoldo de Almeida (the sculptures of the Virgin and the little shepherds of Fatima, the Resurrection of São Lázaro and a figure of São João Baptista), Barata Feyo, Anjos Teixeira, Raul Xavier, António da Costa, Henrique Franco (a mural painting of the Way of the Cross) and Lino António (the frescoes and the high choir) all contributed outstanding works of art.
Access & Hours
Avenida Marquês de Tomar
Lisbon 1050-154
www: paroquiansrfatima.com
Monday - Saturday from 8.30 am to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm; Sundays from 8.30 am to 1 pm and from 4.30 pm to 8 pm.
Lisbon buses #726 and #756 both stop close to the church. Campo Pequeno is the nearest Lisbon metro station on the Linha Amarela. The station has interesting tile work and sculptures by the Portuguese artist Francisco Simões.
Nearby
The Museu Calouste Gulbenkian and the Cinema City Campo Pequeno are both nearby. The latter contains the Campo Pequeno Bullring.
There are several hotels nearby including the VIP Grand Lisboa Hotel & Spa, the Jupiter Lisboa Hotel, and the VIP Inn Berna Hotel.
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