Church built by explorer Vasco da Gama reopens in Portugal

People in Sines, Portugal, celebrated the reopening of the Church of Nossa Senhora das Salas after two years of restoration work funded by the Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência (PRR).

Ilda Botelho and other residents attended the ceremony, pleased to see the church restored to its original condition, with repaired ceilings, walls, and a new wooden floor. The church was originally commissioned by Vasco da Gama after his voyage to India, and holds special meaning for the local fishing community.

The restoration cost 450,000 euros and focused on addressing damage caused by the proximity to the sea, including the Arrábida breccia stone portal. Rita Valente of the Património Cultural, IP, explained that the project aimed to minimize the impacts of climate change on the historic building, including installing a ventilated floor to reduce humidity. Officials hope the work will serve as a model for preserving other heritage sites in Portugal.

For the people of Sines, the church represents more than just a historical building. Álvaro Bejinha, the mayor, emphasized its role as a repository of local memory, witnessing generations of prayers, farewells, and joyful returns. Vasco da Gama’s connection to the town, where he spent his early childhood, is also remembered, with some historians believing he was born in Sines castle. The church’s treasury, containing centuries of offerings, was also reopened after undergoing repairs.

The church holds a small but significant collection of jewelry and religious artifacts, some dating back to the 18th century. Ricardo Estevam Pereira, coordinator of the Museu de Sines, noted the surprising richness of the collection given the town’s history as a small fishing village. The reopening symbolizes the continuation of centuries of tradition and devotion to Nossa Senhora das Salas.