I stumbled into the Church of St. Dominic purely by accident because I was lost and reading my map, trying to get my bearings. I didn't even know this was a church until I saw a small tour group with a guide discussing it and decided to pop in to see for myself. This was an unexpected find, just for the unusually colored ceiling alone! Worth a quick look if you're nearby!

Easy to reach near Rossio Square and Figueira Square, this historic church that dates back to as far as the 13th century but has been altered through the centuries. This church, dedicated to St. Dominic, was the site of major royal events such as royal weddings. The church was damaged by earthquakes (including the infamous 1755 one) and by fire in 1959. When it came to restoring the church it was decided to leave the scarred interiors intact. These scarred areas do not detach from the beauty of the church, but rather lend an unusual aura to this special place of worship. When going to sit in the ‘pews’ section, just take note of the step down into the area and avoid tripping. Do visit this historic and special church, it’s got a special beauty to its interiors.

This baroque church was damaged by the 1531 earthquake and almost completely destroyed in the 1755 earthquake. Rebuilding was completed until 1807. In 1959 the church again devastated by a fire destroying many important paintings and statues. Walking around you will see many signs of the fire in place.

Happened to come across this Church and decided to pop inside and we were glad we did. The inside is very understated for a Catholic Church but beautiful nonetheless. The Church caught fire in 1959 and the impact of that can still be seen inside but it adds to the charm of the building. The Church is free to visit but it's definitely worth making a donation to support this wonderful building.

A church with a history of catching fire was not fully restored after the last fire. A poster board in the rear of the church was a collage of photos showing the extent of the damage and the firefighters who died trying to save the church. The damage was very visible from burn marks, cracked columns, etc but added to the church’s character as reminder of the severity of that fateful day. In contrast, the salmon colored ceiling above and the ornate altar were beautiful and showed its past glory. One of the side altars was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and two of the 3 children (Jacinta and Francisco) who originally saw her in Fatima. It was very popular.

For me, this was the most interesting of all the churches we visited in Portugal! More fascinating than any of the basilicas or cathedrals! The history of the church is amazing. First built in 1241, the church has suffered earthquakes, fires, and massacres. The most recent misfortune was a devastating fire in 1959. After that fire, the church was partially restored, but the results of the fire (charred areas, cracked columns, etc.) remain, giving the church a very primitive appearance unlike any other.

This church made a strong impression on me. A center of the Inquisition in the 1600s, this is now one of Lisbon's most active churches. The evocative interior- more or less rebuilt from the ruins left by the 1755 earthquake - reminds visitors of that horrible All Saints' Day Sunday at 9:20 am, when most of the city was at Mass and the earth rolled. The city authorities decided to leave the church in this form and not restore it. It was an eerie sight, it gave me goosebumps when I imagined what the people who were here during the earthquake experienced. Across the city, heavy stone church walls like these collapsed on their congregants. Standing at the back of the nave, you can see which parts of the original stone walls remained standing. The black soot on the walls and the charred stonework at the altar recalls the horrible fires that followed the earthquake. Our Lady of Fatima is Portugal's most popular saint, and her chapel (in the left rear of the church) always has the most candles. Her statue is accompanied by two of the three children to whom she miraculously appeared (the third was still alive when this chapel was made and so is not shown in heaven with the saint). The church is open daily 7:30 am - 19:00 pm, located at Baixa city center area. I highly recommend visiting.

Chuches are always good places to go when abroad and this one did not dissapoint. I liked the history to it, the fact that it looks unkept but in a charming way. The long aisle, the paintings, statues and attention to detail. Really unique observation. Very happy to visit again.

This magnificent church survived earthquakes and fires. The decision to rebuild the roof and leave the remaining fire damage makes this an even more remarkable place. Honoring the stated no-photos policy, I have only exterior photos and spent my time inside absorbing all that this deeply spiritual place has to offer. You don’t want to miss this if you visit Lisbon.