The Faces of the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist – Dom Tomás de Almeida, the Cardinal Patriarch

The Chapel of Saint John the Baptist, in the Church of São Roque, is one of the greatest symbols of the artistic and diplomatic splendour of the reign of King João V, the monarch who sought to place Portugal at the centre of European culture.

This series of guided tours highlights the key figures who made this masterpiece possible. Alongside the Magnanimous Monarch himself, particular attention is given to Manuel Pereira de Sampaio, ambassador to the Holy See, who coordinated the construction and transport of the chapel; Tomás de Almeida, Cardinal Patriarch and close adviser to the king; Alexandre de Gusmão, the diplomat and strategist who consolidated Portugal’s position in Rome; Frederico Ludovice, the architect responsible for the project in Portugal; and Giovanni Battista Carbone, the Jesuit priest and scholar who ensured the theological and symbolic dimensions of the undertaking.

Meeting point: Museum of São Roque reception.

THIS ACTIVITY TAKES PLACE EXCLUSIVELY IN PORTUGUESE.