Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção Mértola Mother Church

Admire the Igreja Matriz de Mértola Mother Church, one of the few mosques which were turned into churches and survived the Reconquest, in Portugal.

Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção
Mértola Mother Church
© Celestino Manuel

The Igreja Matriz de Mértola Church, also known as Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção Church, is an imposing temple of squared floor and flat facade, crowned by fanciful conical ornaments.

This church is famous because it was previously a mosque, one of the few that survived to the Reconquest. It was consecrated a church in the 13th century. Behind the altar, there is a not whitewashed cavity on the wall which is an old mirhab (praying niche) belonging to the old mosque.

Its Gothic vestibule has carved statues with goats and lions shapes. It is worth to take a look at the horseshoe arc, traditionally Arabic, located on the North door.

More information:

Location:

Largo da Igreja, Mértola.

Mapa Interactivo:

Mértola

What to see:

Other worth-visiting nearby towns and cities:

Why "Portugal Travel"?

Portugal Travel is an organization of Portuguese agencies whose objectives are:

✓ To make Portugal, its culture and its heritage known.
✓ To promote sustainable tourism.

In collaboration with:

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril

Turismo de Portugal