The early Church of Our Lady of Victory was built by Bishop Marcos de Lisboa, around 1539. The church would have been erected on the site of the old Jewish Quarter. According to an ancient tradition, it is believed that the construction of this church is linked to a commitment made in the XVI century between the town council and the “adeleiros”, it seems, mostly New Christians, who paid for the church’s construction and the paving of the street.

In 1583, when Friar Marcos de Lisboa created the parish of Victory, the church started to serve as the parish church, a mission that it continues to fulfil today. It was, however, considered a very small sanctuary, which is why, in 1604, the master mason Pantaleão Brás was responsible for its expansion, which was finished in 1638.

In 1755, when the building was threatened with ruin, and the diocese was administered by Bishop Friar Antonio de Sousa, the necessary rebuilding work was begun. The present church was built between 1756 and 1766 during the term of Bishop Friar Antonio de Sousa. Inaugurated on August 5, 1769 during another period of the diocese’s vacancy (1766/1770), the church would later be heavily damaged by two violent mishaps, the like of which are often the reason for reconstructions: The Siege of Oporto (1832/34) in which the church was repeatedly targeted by “Miguelista” artillery located just across the river, in Vila Nova de Gaia, which is why until 1852, the date of the completion of restoration work, the parish services were held in the nearby church of St. Benedict of Victory; the 1874 fire that completely destroyed the altar and the image of Our Lady of Victory.

From an architectural point of view, this is a classic-style building, where some Jesuit influences are evident. There is some art work worth mentioning, such as: the image of Our Lady of Fatima, by Guilherme Thedim; the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, also by Guilherme Thedim; the valance on the cross arch crowned by a statue of Our Lady Victoria and the image of Our Lady of Victory, by Soares dos Reis, found in the side altar of Our Lady of Victory.

A bullet embedded in the outer wall is claimed to date from the time of the Liberal Wars in Oporto. Today it can be seen in the south Wall.

Altar da Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Vitória	Altar da Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Vitória	Casa na Rua de S. Miguel que apresenta na fachada azulejos setecentistas provenientes da sala do capítulo do Mosteiro de S. Bento da Vitória

Worship times: Tuesday and Thursday at 6.00pm; Wednesday at 10pm; Saturday at 4pm; Sunday at 10.30am

Religious Feasts: Our Lady of Victory – last Sunday of May; Lord of the Good Fortune – Last Sunday of August.

Duration of the guided tour - 15minutes

Opening hours:

 Tuesday to Friday - 9am - 12am and 4 pm - 7.30pm

Saturday – 9am - 12am and 2.30pm - 5pm

Sunday – 9am – 11.30am

Monday – Closed