The Faces of the Chapel of St John the Baptist – Alexandre Gusmão | The Diplomat

The Chapel of St John the Baptist, in the Igreja de São Roque, is one of the greatest symbols of the artistic and diplomatic splendour of the reign of King João V, the monarch who aspired to place Portugal at the heart of European culture.

This series of guided tours highlights the key figures who made this masterpiece possible. Alongside His Magnanimous Majesty, key figures include Manuel Pereira de Sampaio, ambassador to the Holy See, who oversaw the construction and transport of the chapel; Tomás de Almeida, cardinal-patriarch and close adviser to the king;  Alexandre de Gusmão, a diplomat and strategist who consolidated Portugal’s position in Rome; Frederico Ludovice, the great architect responsible for the work in Portugal; and Giovanni Battista Carbone, the Jesuit priest and scientist, who ensured the theological and symbolic dimensions of the project.

Upcoming sessions

24 July – Alexandre Gusmão, The Diplomat

25 September – Giovanni Battista Carbone, The Scientist Priest

7 November – D. Tomás de Almeida, The Cardinal-Patriarch