This statue of José Tomás de Sousa Martins, sculpted by Teixeira da Mota, was erected in 1904 just in front of the NOVA Facultade de Ciencias Medicas in Lisbon (Campo dos Mártires da Pátria).
Probably due to Sousa Martins’ kindness with the poor and the sick during his lifetime, his “statue has become the centre of a quasi-religious cult in which the spirit of Dr Sousa Martins is believed able to assist in cures. The foot of the statue is surrounded by marble plaques giving thanks to him for unexpected cures, some calling him ‘Brother’, candles burn all around it and flowers are placed there”1.
- Photos by Luca Borghi @ (September 2018)
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