National Pantheon

About this place

Originally the Church of Santa Engrácia, this Baroque monument became Portugal's National Pantheon. Its tombs and memorials honour figures from the country's political and cultural history. Look at the architecture as both a former religious project and a later expression of national memory. The name Santa Engrácia recalls the building's earlier dedication, while the pantheon gives it a broader civic purpose. The distinction between actual tombs and commemorative memorials is useful during a visit. Together they show how a nation constructs a shared historical narrative through the selection of people it chooses to honour.