Panteao Nacional, Lisboa – From Old Church to National Monument
The Panteao Nacional in Lisboa is an old 16th century church transformed in the National Pantheon. It’s the final resting place of 12 Portuguese personalities, and you can feel the history of the place when visiting.
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This guide has everything you need to know to plan your visit. Let’s jump right in!
Originally the Church of Santa Engrácia, the building became the National Pantheon in the 20th century. The Panteão Nacional is a national monument, and a very iconic building in the Lisbon skyline.
If you have already visited the classic sights such as the Praca do Comercio or the Cristo Rei, and you’re looking for more things to do in Lisbon, then I definitely recommend visiting the Pantheon especially in winter to warm up.
In this travel guide about the Panteao Nacional in Lisbon, you’ll find in the table of contents below everything that we’ll see.
Simply click on the table to expand it, then click on any part you’d like to jump to.
Where is the Panteao Nacional?
The Panteao Nacional is located in Portugal capital city, Lisbon.
The monument is in the Alfama district, in the south east of Lisbon. It’s slightly outside the main city center, right next to the Santa Apolonia train station.
Panteao Nacional address: Campo de Santa Clara, 1100-471 Lisboa, Portugal
Interesting facts about the Panteao Nacional
Are you fond of facts? I know I am! I love learning more about a place and its history with some quick & interesting facts, so I’ve gathered a few about the Panteao Nacional Lisboa for you:
- before being the Pantheon, the building was a church: the Igreja de Santa Engrácia, built in 1570.
- after being damaged by an act of vandalism 1630, the church collapsed in 1681
- the construction of the current church started in 1682, and stopped in 1712 when the architect Joao Antunes died
- the church was converted in the Panteao Nacional in 1916
- the pantheon was finally completed in 1966, with the addition of the white dome.
Visiting The Panteao Nacional Lisboa
After starting the day at the Cristo Rei for sunrise, taking in the sumptuous view over the river and the 25 de Abril bridge, I got on with my exploration of Lisbon. I drove back across the bridge, and went to explore the Basilica da Estrela.
The next stop of the day was the National Pantheon: on my previous visit to Lisbon, I had seen its massive white dome overlooking the city, and decided to visit it this time.
When you approach the Panteao Nacional, you can see the massive white dome sticking out above the buildings. Because the pantheon is located on a hill, you can basically see it from everywhere in the city.
When I finally reached the Pantheon, and ended up on the open, with a direct view on the whole building, I was impressed by how spectacular the monument is. It looks huge, just look at the people in the image below for scale.
Inside the National Pantheon
The Panteao Nacional is a stunning building from the outside; it’s equally as beautiful inside. The architecture of the Pantheon is different from the traditional latin churches (one tall wing and 3 small wings); it has 4 equal wings, merging in the center under the dome.
The geometric patterns on the floor and on the ceiling are beautiful, and they add to the overall beauty of this place. As you can see on the picture above, there is also a massive organ, dating from the 18th century.
The ceiling of each of the 4 towers is very high, and the center ceiling of the central dome is even higher.
Tombs of National Public Figures
The Panteao Nacional is the final resting place of national public figures of Portugal. As of today (2019), it contains 12 tombs.
Among the personalities, there are Presidents, writers, a presidential candidate, a singer and a footballer.
Panteao Nacional Burials:
- Manuel de Arriaga, first President of the First Portuguese Republic
- Teofilo Braga, second President of the First Portuguese Republic
- Sidonio Pais, fourth President of the First Portuguese Republic
- Oscar Carmona, 11th President of Portugal and Minister of War
- Humberto Delgado, General of the Portuguese Air Force and presidential candidate
- Joao de Deus, poet
- Almeida Garrett, poet and playwright
- Guerra Junqueiro, author and poet
- Aquilino Ribeiro, writer
- Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, poet and writer
- Amalia Rodrigues, fado singer
- Eusébio, footballer
Cenotaphs for National Heroes
In addition to the 12 tombs of Portuguese personalities, there are also 6 cenotaphs (empty tomb or monument) in the National Pantheon.
List of the 6 cenotaphs:
- Luis de Camoes, poet, considered the most famous Iberian poet of his time
- Pedro Alvares Cabral, fleet commander, known for being the European discoverer of Brazil
- Alfonso de Albuquerque, Portuguese General and military genius
- Nuno Alvares Pereira, Portuguese General who won Portugal independence from Castile in 1385
- Vasco da Gama, explorer and first European to reach India by sea
- Prince Henry the Navigator, patron of the Portuguese exploration
The view from the rooftop
The very nice addition to the Pantheon visit is the access to the rooftop.
When you enter, take the exit on the left and you’ll reach the stairs. After climbing the stairs, you will reach the first level, inside the dome. This gives you a perfect vantage point to see the inside of the Panteao Nacional from a new angle.
In the dome, you can take the door to exit out onto the rooftop of the building. The terrace is very wide, and you’re free to walk around.
Click here to see the view
You’ll have a stunning view over the Alfama neighborhood, and if you’re lucky with weather you’ll be able to see the Ponte 25 de Abril in the distance.
If you post your photos of the Panteao Nacional on Instagram, tag them with #kevmrc so that we can see them!
Panteao Nacional Entry Fee
If you want to visit the Panteao Nacional, or go up the roof, you’ll have to buy a ticket. You’ll find the price below:
Pantheon Tickets: 4€
Panteao Nacional Opening Hours
The Pantheon is open during the day, but closes at different times depending on the season.
Please note that it’s closed every Mondays.
You’ll find below the Panteao Nacional opening hours:
October to March – 10am to 5pm – last entry at 4:40pm
April to September – 10am to 6pm – last entry at 5:40pm
Closed on – Every Mondays; 1st January, Easter Sunday, 1st May, 13th June, 24 and 25th December
How to Get to the Pantheon
You can either get to the pantheon by car, by public transportation, or by foot.
By car
If you’re driving from the center, it takes around 10-15 minutes to reach the church. Because there is a lot of traffic in Lisbon, I would recommend leaving your car in the center if you’ve already found a parking spot, and using the public transportation system to go there.
If you do use your car, there is free parking right next to the Pantheon. Here is the address:
Free Parking: Rua do Paraíso 10, 1100-105 Lisboa, Portugal
By public transportation
To reach the Panteao Nacional in Lisboa with public transportation, you can use the tram, bus or metro.
Type: Tram
Line: Tram 28
To: Saint Vicent Monastery
–
Type: Bus
Lines: 28, 704, 712, 728, 734, 735, 745, 759, 781, 782
–
Type: Subway
Line: Linha Azul (blue line)
To: Santa Apolonia
By foot
If you enjoy walking, you can just walk from the city center to the Pantheon. Here are the distances from the main spots in Lisbon:
From Castelo de S. Jorge: 14 minutes
From Lisbon Cathedral: 16 minutes
From Santa Justa lift: 26 minutes
Where to Stay near the Panteao Nacional in Lisbon
If you’re visiting the Panteao Nacional and Lisbon, you have several options for where to stay. You’ll find below hotels depending on your travel style:
Budget: Host Bell Rooms and Suites
Very cheap accommodation, around 14€ per night for a bed in a 12 beds dorm room.
This hostel has the best location, it’s right next to the main square, and everything is within walking distance. There’s also tea and coffee machines in every room, which is a big plus.
Best Prices: Host Bell Rooms and Suites
Comfy: Lost Lisbon: Avenida House
Very comfy rooms, with private bathroom, for around 78€ per night.
The two nice bonuses? It’s within walking distance of the city center, and it also comes with a free breakfast!
Best Prices: Lost Lisbon: Avenida House
Luxury: The One Palacio da Anunciada
If you’re looking for the perfect dreamy place to relax and enjoy your stay in Lisbon, look no further.
The One Palacio da Anunciada might very well be your favorite place in the city; private bathroom, outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, indoor pool and even a sauna! It also has breakfast included, and its location is hard to beat.
Best Prices: The One Palacio da Anunciada
Visit Portugal
Planning a trip to Portugal? You can find below several other articles about this wonderful part of the world to help you plan your trip:
Lisbon Guides:
25 de Abril bridge – The Golden Gate Bridge of Portugal
Basilica da Estrela – Gem of Baroque Architecture
Cristo Rei – Visit the Highest Point of Lisbon
Check all my Portugal travel guides here
Portugal Guides:
The Ultimate Algarve Travel Guide
What to see in Sintra – next to Lisbon
I hope you enjoy your trip to the Panteao Nacional and to Portugal!
If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.
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