Basílica da Estrela: The Beautiful Star Basilica
Among the best places to visit in Lisbon, the Basilica da Estrela is one of them. Because of its omnipresence on the city's skyline, the gleaming chalk-white dome of the Basilica da Estrela (Star Basilica) draws admiring glances from all over Lisbon. The church, located on a hill west of the city center, is one of the grandest in the capital.
The basilica was commissioned by Maria I, the daughter of King José I, and was finished in 1790. The limestone façade, adorned with a smorgasbord of statues and allegorical figures, is balanced by twin bell towers and is similar in design to the Mosteiro Pálacio Nacional de Mafra, albeit on a smaller scale. The interior is cool and serene (a welcome relief on a hot day), and the blueprints of architect Mateus Vicente de Oliveira and later Reinaldo Manuel are translated into a vast, spacious interior of various shades of marble. Looking up from near the high altar, the dome resembles a massively inflated balloon bathed in soft translucent light.
The tomb of Maria I is on one side, but the extraordinary Nativity scene crafted in cork and terra-cotta by Machado de Castro should not be missed. It is displayed in a room that is occasionally locked. If this is the case, request that the sacristan inspect it. Outside, opposite the basilica, is the leafy Jardim da Estrela, Lisbon's most beautiful park and a wonderful place to relax.
Address: Praça da Estrela, 1200-667 Lisboa, Portugal
Timings: 10AM - 7:30PM
Phone: +351 21 396 0915
Google rating: 4.6/5
Website: https://www.patrimoniocultural.gov.pt/en/
