The Misericórdia Church was built in 1544 on the synagogue of the Jewish community of Leiria that existed there before, constituting one of the 12 anchor projects, among the 25 that are part of the Sefarad Routes project, considered “vital” for the success of the Jewish Network from Portugal.

The Brotherhood of Misericórdia de Leiria was created in 1544, having this church replaced, in a certain way, in the lower area of ​​the city, the role played by the church of S.Martinho (demolished between 1546 - 49) at least until the construction of the Cathedral, in 1559. The structures attached to the church - which correspond to the space currently occupied by Casa do Arco and Residencial Leiriense - functioned until the beginning of the 19th century as a hospital and hostel, concentrating around the temple all assistance institutions (hospitals, inns and gafarias) previously dispersed throughout the city.

In the current configuration, the church corresponds to a construction from the beginning of the 18th century, promoted by Bishop D. Alvaro Abranches de Noronha, and in which the master of works Francisco Gomes intervenes. The main facade, simple and sober, is adapted to the care function of the institution.

The nave's decorative stoicism gives way to greater artistic exuberance in the chancel. From the vault, freshly painted with brutish motifs, stand out four medallions with emblems of the Virgin's litanies: the fountain, the well, the tower and a sanctuary. The monumental altarpiece is dominated by a canvas representing the Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Santa Isabel. Beside it, two pairs of pink marble columns, with Corinthian capitals, support the entablature of an interrupted pediment, in the middle of which is the symbol of the Holy Trinity. The Tabernacle in yellow marble, with aesthetics closer to the Rococo. On the walls of the chancel, two large canvases painted in oil stand out, representing two steps of the Visitation cycle: on one side is depicted the journey of Santa Maria to the home of her cousin ISabel; while on the opposite side the decisive episode of this cycle is depicted, the greeting and embrace of the two women, both pregnant