Church of Nossa Senhora da Vitória Porto

Portugal's Attractions: Church of Nossa Senhora da Vitória, Porto

Church of Nossa Senhora da Vitória

The Church of Nossa Senhora da Vitória is close to the Convento e Igreja de São Bento da Vitória in Porto.

The church is an 18th century replacement of a previous 16th century church.

Church of Nossa Senhora da Vitória, Porto, Portugal. — Church of Nossa Senhora da Vitória, Porto, Porto, Portugal

History

The Church of Nossa Senhora da Vitória we see today was constructed between 1755 and 1769. It replaced an early church built by Bishop D. Frei Marcos of Lisbon, way back in 1539.

The original church was in the old Jewish quarter of Lisbon and was partly financed by money coerced from these so-called "New Christians" - forced converts from Judaism. It is possible the church is located on the site of a former synagogue.

Unfortunately the church was damaged during the so-called Siege of Porto between 1832-1833. A bullet is still visible in the walls from this violent struggle.

Later in 1874 there was more misfortune and its altar was destroyed in a fire.

Present highlights within include the Rococo-style artwork of such masters as the sculptors Francisco Pereira Campanhã and José Teixeira Guimarães.

The sculpture in the main altar is by António Manuel Soares dos Reis (1847-1889), now considered a leading realist artist of his time, who tragically took his own life, aged just 41. His work can be seen in Porto at the Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis.

Highlights of the interior include an image of Our Lady of Fatima and of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, both by Guilherme Ferreira Thedim (1900-1985), a master of religious sculpture in marble, stone, terracotta and wood.