The museum is open: Tue-Sun 10 am – 5 pm, closed on holidays
Free entry on Sundays, free entry for children, seniors, teachers, students, holders of youth cards

Behind a very plain white façade, there is an amazing church. However, first you have to overcome a lot of steep flights of stairs from Rossio Station, which in itself is a city landmark.

Inside the first thing you notice is the ceiling fresco, well actually a trompe l’oeil that covers the whole perimeter of the wooden ceiling. The church has eight chapels – four on each side of the altar. To the right is a heavy baroque chapel with beautiful inlays, next chapel is neo-classical with a figure of St Francis, third chapel is baroque with white columns covered by gold vines and azulejos on the side, the fourth is Holy Sacrament chapel with a lot of gold and angels surrounding Mary. The high altar has 2 floors to it with columns on top of columns and statues and paintings in small altars with lots of gold. Above the chapels there are paintings of biblical scenes. To the left of the altar first chapel has beautiful blue columns and 3 large paintings showing St John the Baptist and Mary. Next chapel is very baroque with pieta and Christ in the halo of angels rising to the skies. Next chapel is a neo-classical Chapel of St Anthony. The last one is Chapel of the Lost Child with 3 paintings of adorations and a medallion above. Above the entrance on a large balcony there is a baroque organ surrounded by azulejos. There is also sacristy with 17th century frescoes on the ceiling and rows of paintings of saints on the walls. On the ceiling you can see scenes of the Last Supper scene, Life of Christ and angels with cross in the middle. The museum houses a collection of European religious art dating back from 16-18th centuries.

Just getting here is fun. The best way is to take the Gloria funicular that leaves from its station near the Tourist Information Centre on Av. de Liberdade. The old tram car creaks and groans as it makes its vertical ascent to the Bairro Alto area. The Church is about 3 blocks to the left after leaving the tram.

The outside is quite plain but inside is a whole different story. Each of the nine chapels as well as the various altars is a work of art. My favourite was the Chapel of St. John the Baptist which was built in the mid 18th century. It features many different types of marble - lapis lazuli, agate, alabaster, amethyst and jade, among others. The chapel floor and side panels are made up of mosaics. This chapel was actually built in Rome then taken apart and shipped to Lisbon where it was reassembled.

Another beautiful chapel is the Chapel of Our Lady of the Doctrine with its intricate gilt woodwork and marble altar which was built in the 17th century. The Church is open daily from 8:30a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is no charge to enter and there is a very handy pamphlet in English that gives lots of detail about the Church.

The adjacent museum has displays on the history of the Jesuits in Portugal as well as religious items. It was closed during my visit but is usually open from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday.