Lisbon is a city with which no traveler remains dissatisfied, but it also depends on the travelers and their preferences. If you love history and culture combined together, one place you just ought to visit is the National Pantheon of Lisbon.
Located in one of the outstanding and incredible districts of Lisbon named Alfama the church of Santa Engracia, more known as the National Pantheon, is a 17th century monument, where important and famous Portuguese personalities, among them writer Almeida Garrett and Amalia Rodrigues (the famous Fado diva) are buried. Several Portuguese presidents and political figures are buried there too. Manuel de Arriaga (President of the First Portuguese Republic), Teófilo Braga (Portuguese writer), Sidónio Pais (4th President of Portugal), Óscar Carmona (11th President of Portugal), Guerra Junqueiro (Portuguese poet and writer), Aquilino Ribeiro (Portuguese writer and diplomat) and many other popular figures rest in peace right in this Pantheon.
There are also cenotaphs to Luís de Camões (Portugal’s and the Portuguese language’s greatest poet), Pedro Álvares Cabral (Portuguese noble, military commander, navigator and explorer), Afonso de Albuquerque (Portuguese nobleman and admiral), Nuno Álvares Pereira (Portuguese general), Vasco da Gama (Portuguese explorer) and Henry the Navigator (Portuguese royal prince). The first tombs were transferred to the church from the Jeronimos monastery.
The design of the church represents Portuguese Baroque. The interior is very light and colorful embellished with different types of marble. The main facade includes four huge Tuscan columns, which stand like the protectors of this wonder. The harmonious interior of the church is dominated by the curved spaces of the central crossing and naves. The floor and walls are decorated with baroque, polychrome patterns of marble. The magnificent 18th-century baroque organ was brought from Lisbon Cathedral.
The National Pantheon is a great way of getting acquainted with the Portuguese history and learning about the renowned public figures of this nation. You won’t face any transport related issues as the National Pantheon is in Alfama, while there the public transport works very well.
