Church of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação

Nossa Senhora da Encarnação Church owes its existence to the generosity of D. Elvira Maria de Vilhena Countess of Pontével (1627-1718) who decided, firstly, to give this city quarter bearing the same name its own parish church and, secondly, to build a pantheon for her family.

Founded in 1551 by the Chapter of Lisbon's Cathedral, the parish had, throughout the 17th century, several places of worship, such as Nossa Senhora do Loreto Church and Nossa Senhora do Alecrim Church. With the intention of providing more dignifying conditions to the devotion of the Incarnation mystery, D. Elvira offered the parish some land that she possessed near the Portas de Santa Catarina and made the necessary arrangements for a new temple to be built.

The new church was consecrated on 6 September 1708 and, according to the descriptions of the time, its interior walls were covered with excellent marble and paintings.

The building's façade, of Baroque inspiration, possessed two niches where the Marble statues of St. Catarina and Nossa Senhora do Loreto which had belonged to the medieval wall that had been destroyed were placed. By will of its founder, the administration of the church was entrusted to the Santíssimo Sacramento Fraternity and it was this very institution that, in 1718 (when D. Elvira died).

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