Church of São Vicente de Fora

Introducing the Church of São Vicente de Fora, which we owe to Philip II. It was built in the 16th century and, at the time, it stood outside the main city walls. That’s where its name comes from, since “Fora” means “outside.” This building, with its Portuguese Mannerist style and hints of Italian Renaissance, stands out in the Lisbon cityscape both for its size and its striking white color. Just to the right of the church is the monastery, part of which now houses a museum displaying an extraordinary collection of traditional Portuguese azulejos. Azulejos are painted tin-glazed ceramic tiles, depicting religious, mythological and war scenes. When in the São Vicente de Fora museum, don’t miss the collection of 38 azulejos depicting scenes from the “La Fontaine’s Fables,” written by France’s most famous poets. It’s truly one-of-a-kind and a must-see for ceramics enthusiasts!