Igreja de São Lourenço (Almancil)

The Igreja de São Lourenço ("St. Lawrence's Church") is located on a hill near Almancil, Portugal.

It was built in the 17th century and dedicated to Saint Lawrence of Rome. It was commissioned by local inhabitants in gratitude to Saint Lawrence for answering their prayers for water.

Decoration

The interior is covered by blue and white glazed tiles ('azulejo'),which are very common in Portugal. They were probably produced in Lisbon and sent down to the Algarve region. The glazed tiles cover the cupola, the walls of the chancel, the nave, and the nave vault and depict episodes of Saint Lawrence's life:

• the saint healing two blind men
• the saint giving money to the poor
• the saint talking with Pope Sixtus II
• the saint arguing for his Christian belief with Roman Emperor Valerian
• the saint's martyrdom