Lisbon Cathedral
The Lisbon Cathedral, also named Igreja de Santa Maria Maior, is the main church of the city of Lisbon and the Patriarchate of Lisbon Cathedral.
Architectural History
The building is located at the site where formerly there was a mosque. Construction began in 1147, thus the Lisbon Cathedral is the oldest church in the city. In 1344 an earthquake caused some damage. In 1380, the western facade was built in the Romanesque style.
The earthquake of 1755 caused damage again, among others, the Gothic choir was destroyed. In the 18th century, the towers were crowned with peaks in the Baroque style. The tips were broken down in the time of the government of António de Oliveira Salazar in order to achieve a uniform appearance in the Romanesque style. At the same time the battlements have been restored as well as in the west facade replaced a portal similar to the window by a rose window.
Interior
The interior of the cathedral is decorated in the styles of the Romanesque and Gothic, the Gothic is concentrated mainly in the area of the choir. The ceiling of the church was painted in the Baroque period. This time also comes from one of the organs.
The transformation of some chapels in the styles of Baroque, Rococo and Neo-Classicism was reversed in the 20th century.
The font in which St. Anthony was to be baptized in 1195, comes from the 12th century. In one of the chapels is the created by Machado de Castro Nativity scene from the 1766.
Organs
The Cathedral has two organs. On the Gospel side of the chancel is a historic, single-manual organ which was built around the year 1788 by the organ builder Joaquim António Peres Fontane.
The organ on the Epistle side was built in 1964 by the organ builder Flentrop. The instrument has 51 registers, four manuals and pedal.
- Couplers: I / II, III / II, I / P, II / P III / P
Cloister
The east Attached to the cathedral cloister was built in the late 13th century under the reign of King Dionysius, and in the 14th century. There you will find an archaeological exhibition that shows ancient remains of buildings, as well as an iron gate in the Romanesque style.