Interior of the church

The Church of Saint Maria. The layout of the Church is based on a Latin cross. The Church is made-up of three naves of the same height (a hall church) which are united by a single polinervada vaulted ceiling that’s supported by six pillars with a circular base.

On entering the Church one encounters the tombs of Vasco da Gama (under-choir, left) and Luís de Camões (under-choir, right), both were created by the 19th century sculptor Costa Mota. Moving on, on the north wall one can appreciate the confessionals and, on the south side, the large stained-glass windows designed by Abel Manta and executed by R. Leone (in the 20th century).

The nave's vaulted ceiling spans 30 metres. It is the "most accomplished realisation of the late Mediaeval ambition of covering the greatest possible span with the lowest number of supports" (Kubler). In this open space, which abounds in regal symbolism, the profusion of ornamentation reaches its zenith.

In the left arm of the transept rest the remains of the Cardinal-King Dom Henrique and the children of Manuel I. In the right arm is the tomb of King Sebastião and the descendants of King João III.