Misericórdia Church, Ericeira

Misericórdia Church began to be designed after the Ericeira Council donated, in 1678, the Espírito Santo (Holy Spirit) Chapel to Francisco Lopes Franco. With the aid of the fishing community, the aristocrat took on the responsibility of building the church, which was to house his tomb four years later.

The baroque monument was completed in the 18th century and the paintings Visitação (Visitation) and Virgem da Misericórdia (Virgin of Mercy), visible in the church museum, are by Manuel António de Góis. On the arch of the main altarpiece is the image of Our Lady of the Rosary, the patroness of the most important confraternity in Ericeira.

The Church was where the brothers of Misericórdia would attend religious rites, seated on a row of chairs positioned next to the entry to the hostel and the hospital, which in 1937 was converted into the present Archives and Museum.