Basílica da Estrela

The Royal Basilica of Estrela is one of Lisbon's most beautiful monuments and one of its most monumental churches. It's a baroque and neoclassical building built by Queen Maria I in 1790, after the birth of her son.

The tomb of the queen, who died in Brazil, is found inside, by the door that leads to a remarkable baroque nativity scene with over 500 terracotta and cork images. It's the country's largest nativity scene, created by leading sculptor Machado de Castro. 
The interior is covered in polychrome marbles and paintings by the Italian artist Pompeo Batoni and the Portuguese Cirilo Volkmar Machado, among others.

The exterior, with a large rococo domeand two bell towers, was inspired by St. Peter’s in Rome and Mafra Palace outside Lisbon, and features monumental sculptures and figures alluding to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.