Sebastiao Church and Museum, Albufeira

San Sebastian Church (Igreja de São Sebastião) stands quietly on Miguel Bombarda Square (Praça Miguel Bombarda), blending Manueline and Baroque styles into a compact, whitewashed structure. Originally built in the 16th century and reconstructed in the early 1700s, the church retains key elements of its earlier design, including a Manueline side door and an ornate Baroque façade with elaborate volutes. Though modest in size, the building once anchored Albufeira’s fishing village and remains an enduring symbol of its religious heritage.

The interior houses a gilded wooden altar adorned with polychrome carvings and statues of Sao Sebastiao, Sao Francisco Xavier, and Sao Domingos. Another highlight is the statue of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, likely dating from the 16th century, along with other wooden figures and a rare stone sculpture from the same period. The church’s single nave is sparsely decorated, directing attention to these carved elements and the decorative tiled panels along the walls.

Now serving as the Museum of Sacred Art (Museu de Arte Sacra), the church preserves a range of religious artworks collected from across the Albufeira region, especially from churches affected by the 1755 earthquake. The collection includes silver objects such as an incense boat, chalice, and the crown of Nossa Senhora da Orada, reflecting the craftsmanship and devotion of earlier centuries.

Though small, the museum offers a concentrated view of the area’s ecclesiastical history. It provides a quiet, reflective counterpoint to Albufeira’s busier tourist areas, preserving artistic and spiritual relics that have weathered time, disaster, and changing tides.