List of former mosques in Portugal


This is a list of former mosques in Portugal of former mosques in Portugal used during the Al-Andaluz period.
The term former mosque in this list indicates any mosque or site used for Islamic Prayer in Portugal during the Islamic occupation of the Iberian Peninsula.
Most of the former Portuguese mosques were built and used as Muslim places of worship during the Al-Andalus era when several Muslim Moorish kingdoms and empires ruled large parts of the Iberian Peninsula including most of modern Portugal. Many former mosques and Islamic religious buildings were either demolished altogether or converted into churches, after the Christian Reconquista of Iberia. However, this list does not include the former mosques in Spain that were built during Al-andalus period.
Mosques were important buildings during Arab rule in Portugal. They formed an important part of Moorish architecture. Portuguese mosques and religious buildings had a square plan layout. Minaret towers were normally built in a corner of the mosque. They were used for announcing the Islamic prayer call known as Adhan, five times a day. The qibla or direction the faithful should face when performing Islamic prayers was indicated by a small niche called mihrab on the main wall. The mihrab and minaret usually projected out from the main walls of the mosque.
In some ancient mosques like the former Great mosque of Silves, water tanks or cisterns were built to store and supply water for Wudu, the washing ritual performed before prayers. Horseshoe arches were a distinctive Iberian Moor architectural feature. They were commonly used to frame doorways, windows or just as decoration in Portuguese mosques. Four horseshoe doorways which opened into an inner courtyard or Sahn, remain in Mertola mosque. Mihrabs, horseshoe arches and door frames were decorated with detailed patterns formed by intertwining lines, known as arabesques. They had patterns of geometric and floral motifs. Simple shapes, repeated in symmetrical arrays giving a beautiful artistic finish. Due to the shorter exposure to Islam and substantially quicker Portuguese Reconquista re-establishing the Christian religion and cultural values in every aspect, the minority Islamic legacy assimilated into the mainstream Portuguese and dissolved over time. Unlike neighbouring Spain where a significant number of these original mosques and religious structures are still standing, scattered more or less all over the country. There is no unmodified ancient mosque in Portugal, the best preserved example being Mértola’s modified former mosque and a few more structures in the South of the country.

List of former mosques in Portugal

Note: Mesquita means mosque in the Portuguese language.
LocationImagesCurrent NameMosque NameOpen YearsNotesRef.
Mértola Church of Nossa Senhora da AnunciaçãoAljama mosque of MartulahUntil late 12th century.Best identifiable and unique former mosque in Portugal, although a mixture of Almohad and Manueline post-Gothic architecture. Mosque last rebuilt in the second half of 12th century but some elements date to the 9th century. In 1532 the church modified the mosque building reducing its size from 6 sections & 20 columns to 4 sections & 12 columns.
Loulé Church of São Clemente, Minaret of LouleOnly parts of the original minaret of a former mosque exists, used as church bell tower. Its 22.7 metres tall and 4.2 metres across. Church was built in 13th century and is the oldest in Loulé. Across it lies old Arab cemetery of Jardim dos Amuados. Square plan and misalignment in orientation of Church building also indicate presence of a former mosque.-
Tavira Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo Mosque stood at the highest point within the fortified Medina of Tavira on the location where the Church of Santa Maria stands. Recent excavations unearthed rubbish heaps with 11-12th century materials and dwellings from first half of 12th century. A slight canonical disorientation of the church is indicative of to having used the basic structure of the mosque. In 1718, a tomb was found with a corpse accompanied with a Moorish Alfange blade.-
Serpa Igreja de Santa Maria Church believed to have been built over a mosque site. Remaining indications are bell tower built apart from church body and remains of a cylindrical base. Therefore, its believed bell tower was once a minaret. Also Santa Maria was a name usually given to converted mosques.-
Aljezur Ribat of ArrifanaArchaeological site is interpreted as an Islamic fortress convent warrior monks, founded by Ibn Qasi, in about 1130. It is a rare collection of archaeological structures with only one other being known in Iberian Peninsula. Remains of 8 mosques, an Islamic madrassa college, minaret and other buildings have been excavated to date.-