Igreja da Misericórdia de Tavira
Igreja da Misericórdia de Tavira is a church in the Algarve region of Portugal. It is classified as a National Monument.
Tavira’s Church of the Misericórdia is an integral part of the Building and Church of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Tavira. It is at the heart of the civic parish of Tavira.
Commissioned by the Misericórdia de Tavira, it was designed by André Pilarte, who had also been instrumental in the building of the Jerónimos Monastery, in Lisbon.
Since 1943, the church has been classified as a Property of Public Interest.
History
Among all Renaissance buildings in the Algarve, this is one of the finest. It was constructed over a period of ten years from 1541.Decorated tiles
Dating to 1750, the tile panels around the internal walls are generous in scale.Fourteen large frames depict the 14 Works of mercy. These are recognised in the Catholic Church as consisting of seven corporal acts of mercy :
To feed the hungry.
To give water to the thirsty.
To clothe the naked.
To shelter the homeless.
To visit the sick.
To visit the imprisoned, or ransom the captive.
To bury the dead.
Shown on the left-hand wall are the seven spiritual works of mercy:
To instruct the ignorant.
To counsel the doubtful.
To admonish the sinners.
To bear patiently those who wrong us.
To forgive offenses.
To comfort the afflicted.
To pray for the living and the dead.