Gregório Lopes - Discover Portugal’s Renaissance Master

The Chapel of St. Gregory (Capela de São Gregório) in Tomar, has some confusion around its origins sources.

One tradition says it was built in the 16th century by Gregório Lopes, the royal painter, who wanted it as his burial chapel.

Other descriptions emphasise that it is dedicated to St. Gregory of Nazianzus (hence the name).

Both are true, but they refer to different aspects:

Builder / Patron: Gregório Lopes (c. 1490–1550), one of Portugal’s great Renaissance painters, commissioned the chapel as his own resting place. Painter of the art work in the St John the Baptist church.

Dedication: It was consecrated to St. Gregory of Nazianzus, a 4th-century theologian and saint.

It's said that Gregório Lopes is indeed buried inside the Chapel of St. Gregory in Tomar.

His tomb is simple and located within the chapel.

The chapel itself is small and not always open to the public, so many visitors pass by without realising it’s the resting place of one of Portugal’s greatest Renaissance painters.

Lopes had strong ties to Tomar: he also worked in the Convent of Christ, painting major altarpieces and panels for the Knights of Christ.

The chapel gave him a personal sanctuary and ensured his memory stayed linked to the city.

So, the chapel was built by Gregório Lopes, dedicated to St. Gregory of Nazianzus, and it became Lopes’s burial place.

That’s why you’ll see both explanations floating around — one about who built it (Gregório Lopes), and the other about to whom it’s dedicated (St. Gregory).

Sources

Wikipedia

Portuguese Wikipedia

Wikimedia Commons