The Church of Saint Dominic in Lisbon is one of the most important religious monuments in the Portuguese capital. In its nearly 900-year history, it has undergone numerous reconstructions and renovations as a consequence of damage caused mainly by earthquakes. The last cataclysm to strike the temple was the tragic fire of 1959. The element almost completely consumed its magnificent interior. Today, the historic temple, although still bearing the traces of the tragedy of 66 years ago, remains one of the most beautiful and symbolic places in Lisbon.
St Dominic’s Church in Lisbon – originsand development of the temple
The Church of Saint Dominic was built in the 13th century on the initiative of King Sancho II. From the very beginning, the temple had an important function in the religious and social life of the city. Over time, a convent was added to the building, which was one of the most important Dominican centres in Portugal. In the 16th century, the church became the site of tragic events – it was here that the pogrom against the Jews in 1506, known as the Lisbon Massacre, began. There were brutal attacks on the Jewish population for several days, claiming thousands of victims. The event remains one of the darkest pages in the city’s history.
The square in front of the church in the early 20th century. Photo by José A. Bárcia, in Lisboa de Antigamente
Lisbon earthquakes
The church has twice been damaged by cataclysms in its centuries-long history. The first serious damage occurred in 1531, as a result of an earthquake. The temple was rebuilt with the financial support of the faithful and the King, who donated funds for the restoration. Comprehensive reconstruction of the church was also required after the next great earthquake of 1755, which almost completely ruined Lisbon. At that time, the reconstruction of the church was carried out by the architect Carlos Mardel, trying to preserve its original style while adding new architectural elements. We wrote about another Lisbon monument destroyed by the earthquake HERE.
The church fire that changed history
For the next 200 years, the faithful visited the magnificent church to pray and admire its richly decorated interior. Another unexpected tragedy came in the early evening of 13 August 1959, when a massive fire broke out in the church. Its source was probably a candle set on one of the side altars. The flames quickly engulfed the flammable elements and the wooden roof and destroyed almost the entire interior of the church. The fire consumed the richly decorated altars, priceless paintings, as well as wooden decorative elements, including numerous sculptures and gilding. Furnishings and works by famous artists, including paintings by Pedro Alexandrin de Carvalha, were lost in the flames. The temperature was so high that stone and marble elements crumbled and cracked. The fight against the fire lasted more than six hours and the element claimed the lives of two firefighters. Both the scale of the destruction and the dramatic images of the interior after the fire caused a huge stir in the Lisbon community. Although the façade of the church survived, the interior required extensive reconstruction. Following a survey, it was decided to leave most of the damage visible for future generations, as a tangible testimony to the history of the historic church. In addition to the symbolic aspect, the enormous cost of the restoration was not insignificant.
St Dominic’s Church in Lisbon – restorationand new identity of the temple
The fire did not end the existence of St Dominic’s Church. The reconstruction took many years and the church was only reopened to the faithful in 1994. Unlike previous restorations, which aimed to restore the original splendour, this time it was decided to leave the traces of destruction behind, reconstructing only the roof, vaults and other necessary elements. With its cracked columns, charred walls and lack of decoration, the interior of the church takes on a raw and poignant character, being a living monument to the past. Of the old furnishings, the best preserved is the main altar, which can give visitors an idea of the former decoration of the church. The sacristy has also been saved from destruction.
The interior of the church before and after the fire. Photo: bndigital.bnportugal.gov.pt and xiquinhosilva, Wikimedia Commons
Today, the significance and legacy of the burnt-out church
Today, the Church of Saint Dominic serves as the parish for the Santa Justa and Santa Rufina neighbourhoods. Although its interior has not recovered its original richness, it remains a place that attracts tourists and the faithful with its history and its atmosphere of reflection on past tragedies. The 1959 fire changed the temple’s decoration forever, but did not take away its soul. In 1996, the site was declared a National Monument of Portugal, further emphasising its cultural and historical significance.
Source: noticiasmagazine.pt, churchesoflisbon.weebly.com
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