Dress for Portugal churches
 

I am wondering if anyone knows whether knees and arms have to be covered when visiting churches in Portugal. Thanks! pp

I keep my knees always covered while visiting churches in Portugal.

lobo-mau

it is the polite thing to do in any church, cover shoulders and knees.

If you are travelling when it is hot, a loose skirt and cover up with a light shawl for the arms.

You may see the young people wearing fewer clothes, but the locals do not appreciate this. As a visitor, follow the tradition and you will be accepted
much better and receive a more friendly response from the natives.

spunk

sorry: should have replied to peppermintpatti.

spunk

I'm quite sure the natives appreciate fewer clothes.

yes. lobo-mau, the native men would certainly appreciate fewer clothes, especially on the sweet young things but not the dear old babas.

Thank you both for your replies! Lobo, you crack me up! Thank you Spunk for the info. Since I am closer to a dear old baba, I will definately keep covered! pp

PP: i meant that the babas would not apprciate fewer clothes. But like, you I am no longer a sweet young thing, so I will cover up. Keep smiling.

Spunk, thanks for clarification, since I understood incorrectly. In fact I can't see native men to be as selective regarding appreciation of fewer clothes as your latest post suggested.
I am not a sweet young thing but, unlike you, I've never been :-)

Dress like you should in the states, a long skirt and a cover up would be best. Men slacks and a nice shirt. For the ladies the skirt and cover-up is quite sexy in my mind so go crazy.

PP and lobo: maybe when we are travelling, just to be on the safe side, we should invest in those cover ups that the exterminators wear, then we won't offend anyone!!

brando: you are my kind of traveller. Easy going.

A burqa would fit just fine :-)
http://www.alhediya.com/burqa1.html sale price 7.20 $USD
On a more serious note to PP, I'd say that there are not strict rules for Church visits in Portugal, even more if there are not services in progress as I assume. Unless you are in obvious beach clothes, I'm quite sure that nobody will be shocked.
Spunk, if it's not clear my name "Lobo" comes from Latin "canis lupus" and it makes me a male night predator. My hunting companion is a "Loba" and later this night I'll ask her for some comments about clothes protocol in churces, but I am quite sure PP has nothing to worry about.
PS: I've seen visitors literaly interrupting services talking loudly and taking pictures and I feel that more disturbing that any unveiled knee or arm.

Lobo: now I understand why you were never a "sweet young thing"

Yes, I agree, loud talk and photo taking is very rude, but try explaining that to the offenders.

lobo_mau wrote: "I've seen visitors literaly interrupting services talking loudly and taking pictures and I feel that more disturbing that any unveiled knee or arm."

I wish visitors would remember what the real business of churches is. If they did, they would not disturb services or distract people at prayer.

The dress requirements or preferences are one reflection of the purpose of a church building: people should not be distracted from worship or prayer by reminders of the way of the flesh. That is what it is about, and if you recognise and respect that viewpoint, you are not likely to give offence.