Monuments

This church is also known as Santo António (St. Anthony), the alternative patron saint, or the Old Misericórdia as it was the original home of the Misericórdia (state charity institution). In 1836, it was transferred to its current facilities in the Convent of Graça.

A primitive church was built in the 16th century by Simão Silva. In addition to a house on Rua d´Ega that was used as a hospital, this was the Misericórdia. In 1620, Misericórdia Purveyor, bishop Nuno de Noronha, requested crown funding to build a Hospital. Work was completed during the reign of João V.

It is the Joanine Baroque that defines the appearance of the current building with the sculptural exuberance of the façade trapped within the surrounding narrow street. On the entranceway front, there is a representation of Saint Isabel and in one corner of the church a niche contains a statue of Saint Anthony.

There is a single nave with 17th century depictions of the Visitation and the Nuptials of St. Isabel and St. Zechariah in the lateral chapel altars. The main chapel has a Baroque gold leaf carved altar and a polychromatic wood statue of St. Francis. On the painted wooden ceiling, there is some impressive local craftsmanship with a central representation of the Pentecost.