The National Pantheon in Lisbon, originally built in the seventeenth century as the Church of Santa Engracia, is the last resting place for many of Portugal's most famous citizens, including presidents and artists.Already in the sixteenth century a church dedicated to Saint Engracia was built here. In 1630 this church was torn down and construction of a new church started. But before it was completed the new church collapsed during a thunderstorm in 1681. Without delay, a new design was created by architect João Antunes and construction continued until his death in 1712. Due to lack of funding construction ground to a halt and it took so long to complete the church that the Portuguese started to use the expression 'como las obras de Santa Engrácia' (it is like building the Santa Engracia) to describe a job that never seems to end.
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