Panteão Nacional

The former church of Santa Engrácia, whose construction spanned almost three centuries —hence the Portuguese expression "obras de Santa Engrácia" for something endless—, is today the National Pantheon, where great figures of Portugal's history rest: presidents, writers like Almeida Garrett and the unforgettable queen of fado, Amália Rodrigues. Its Greek cross floor plan, clad in polychrome marbles, culminates in a majestic white dome that dominates the skyline of Alfama. After touring the nave and the cenotaphs, it is well worth going up to the outdoor terrace: from there, the Tagus, the São Vicente neighborhood and the rooftops of the old town form one of the most serene and lesser-known views of Lisbon. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, the neighboring Feira da Ladra market completes the visit. 📷 Photographs courtesy of Ingo Mehling (CC BY-SA 4.0), Nan Palmero, TX, USA (CC BY 2.0) and Hugo Ferreira (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.