Igreja Matriz (Parish Church), Albufeira

The church of the patron saint of Albufeira is Our Lady of the Conception, also known as Parish Church. It is on New Church Street. It was built in 1782 to replace the church destroyed by the hellish earthquake of 1755. The old church was a reinvented mosque. The New Church was consecrated in 1800 by Bishop Gomes de Avelar.

The church is a Neoclassic structure with one nave, four side chapels or altars, a choir, a baptismal, two pulpits and side halls. A painting by Albufeira painter Samora Barros is a rococo rendering of Our Lady of the Conception in a niche. In the presbytery are two paintings by Alvaro Mota and by Sousa showing scenes from the life and martyrdom of St. Vincent.

The chapels are dedicated to Saints Peter and Louis, Our Lady of Fatima and The Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1868 the altar was gilded. There is a statue of the Immaculate Conception over the altar. The bell tower dates from 1869 and it is 92 feet high. The carillon has eight bells tuned to F major. A spiral staircase leads to the top.