Church of Marvila

The Church of Marvila is a parish church in the historic centre of Santarém, with a Manueline portal of the 16th century and an interior lined with tiles of the 17th century. The tiles, dated between 1617 and 1639, cover the walls of the whole church and earn it the nickname of "cathedral of tiles".

The church is classified as a National Monument.

What to see at the Church of Marvila

Manueline portal: the main door, with three-lobed arches framed by carved trunks, ropes and plant motifs in the Manueline style.
Tiles: blue, yellow and white pattern tiles and blue and white chequered tiles, which the tile maker Gaspar Gomes of Lisbon laid from 1617, with dates of 1617, 1620, 1635 and 1639 on the walls.
Nave: three naves divided by round arches on thick columns with Ionic capitals.
Organ: an organ built in 1817 by António Xavier Machado e Cerveira and restored in 2008.
Sacristy: a wooden barrel-vaulted ceiling painted in 1690, and an ivory crucifix of Indo-Portuguese origin.

History of the Church of Marvila

13th century: after the Christian conquest of Santarém, the first church is built, possibly on the site of a mosque.
16th century: the church is rebuilt in the Manueline style, with its new portal.
1617 to 1639: the interior is covered with tiles.
1690: the sacristy ceiling is painted.
1817: the organ is built.