Front view on the Basilica da Estrela from the streets of Lisbon timelapse hyperlapse, Portugal. Traffic on the street and blue sky
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Basílica da Estrela

Top choice in Príncipe Real, Santos & Estrela


The curvaceous, sugar-white dome and twin belfries of Basílica da Estrela are visible from afar. The echoing interior is awash with pink-and-black marble, which creates a kaleidoscopic effect when you gaze up into the cupola. The neoclassical beauty was completed in 1790 by order of Dona Maria I (whose tomb is here) in gratitude for a male heir.

Don't miss the presépio, home to the incredibly elaborate 500-piece Nativity Scene made of cork and terracotta by celebrated 18th-century sculptor Joaquim Machado de Castro; it's in a room just beyond the tomb. Climb the 112 steps of the dome for far-reaching views over Lisbon.