Versão portuguesa aqui.

41.16054849348419, -8.096615510272448

The Church of São Martinho de Soalhães is a church located in São Martinho de Soalhães, parish of Soalhães, in the municipality of Marco de Canaveses, in Portugal.

In 1997 it was classified as a national monument, and in 1977 its Romanesque elements received this classification. It is part of the Route of the Romanesque.

History

Soalhães was a territory particularly coveted by the medieval nobility. The importance of the land dictated that its lords took the toponym for their nickname, as in the case of D. João Martins, called Soalhães, bishop of Lisbon and Archbishop of Braga. However, there are few Romanesque remains left to be seen by the profound intervention carried out in the Church in the 18th century.

Its main portal, dating back to the 14th century, shows a proto-Gothic organization, confirmed by the absence of a tympanum and the naturalistic nature of its capitals. Although the portal's oculus was repaired during the 18th century intervention, the truth is that this did not happen inside, where even today we can appreciate a frame punctuated by pearls, a motif very widespread in the Romanesque architecture of the Douro and Tâmega basins.

Inside, a tomb from the 13th or 14th century, sheltered by an arcosolium in the main chapel, on the right side, coexists with a profusion of colors and materials that testify to a somewhat eccentric investment in tile panels, wood in medium polychrome relief, and the carving ornamentation that goes beyond the altarpieces [altars] themselves. The current Church of São Martinho de Soalhães was founded on a basilica where Martinian relics existed at the end of the 9th century. Soalhães is still referred to as a monastery in the 12th century, although to date no consensus has yet been reached on the monastic order it was part of.

In any case, this Church appears in a territory that was particularly coveted by the medieval nobility, and the importance of the land dictated that its lords took the toponym for their surname, as in the case of D. João Martins, called Soalhães, bishop of Lisbon and Archbishop of Braga. Despite the historical weight that attaches to this Church of Soalhães, particularly in the so-called Middle Ages (12th to 14th centuries), there are few traces that tell us about that time, as the Church was profoundly transformed in the 18th century, into a search for updating the temple within a post-Tridentine aesthetics and liturgy.

Three elements persist (visible) from medieval times that we believe were preserved only as a testament to an antiquity that was intended to be reaffirmed in this monument. The main portal, which already bears witness to a proto-Gothic organization, dates back to the 14th century.

Chronology

875 - Reference to the Basilica of Saint Martin;

1120 - Reference to the monastery of Soalhães;

centuries XIII (ends) or XIV (beginnings) - Probable date of the rebuilding of the Church of Soalhães, based on the remaining Romanesque remains;

1304 - Institution of the majorat of Soalhães;

1320 - Soalhães, along with Mesquinhata and Santa Cruz are taxed at 400 pounds;

1514, July 15th - Date of charter of Soalhães;

1733 - Date that marks the reforms in the structure and integrated heritage of the Church (marked in the high choir);

1740-50 - Probable chronology for the tile campaign in the nave of the Church of Soalhães;

1977 - Classification of the Church of Soalhães as a National Monument (decree n.º 129). This classification included only the Romanesque elements;

1980, March 26th - Dispatch extending the scope of classification of the Church of Soalhães contemplated by decree n.º 129 of 1977;

1997, December 31 - Decree establishing a new wording for the official designation of the Church;

2010 - Integration of the Church of São Martinho de Soalhães in the Route of the Romanesque;

2017-2018 - Restoration of the nave's tile coverings, carvings and sculptures, and conservation of the roofs, within the scope of the Route of the Romanesque.

Versão portuguesa aqui.

41.16054849348419, -8.096615510272448

The Church of São Martinho de Soalhães is a church located in São Martinho de Soalhães, parish of Soalhães, in the municipality of Marco de Canaveses, in Portugal.

In 1997 it was classified as a national monument, and in 1977 its Romanesque elements received this classification. It is part of the Route of the Romanesque.

History

Soalhães was a territory particularly coveted by the medieval nobility. The importance of the land dictated that its lords took the toponym for their nickname, as in the case of D. João Martins, called Soalhães, bishop of Lisbon and Archbishop of Braga. However, there are few Romanesque remains left to be seen by the profound intervention carried out in the Church in the 18th century.

Its main portal, dating back to the 14th century, shows a proto-Gothic organization, confirmed by the absence of a tympanum and the naturalistic nature of its capitals. Although the portal's oculus was repaired during the 18th century intervention, the truth is that this did not happen inside, where even today we can appreciate a frame punctuated by pearls, a motif very widespread in the Romanesque architecture of the Douro and Tâmega basins.

Inside, a tomb from the 13th or 14th century, sheltered by an arcosolium in the main chapel, on the right side, coexists with a profusion of colors and materials that testify to a somewhat eccentric investment in tile panels, wood in medium polychrome relief, and the carving ornamentation that goes beyond the altarpieces [altars] themselves. The current Church of São Martinho de Soalhães was founded on a basilica where Martinian relics existed at the end of the 9th century. Soalhães is still referred to as a monastery in the 12th century, although to date no consensus has yet been reached on the monastic order it was part of.

In any case, this Church appears in a territory that was particularly coveted by the medieval nobility, and the importance of the land dictated that its lords took the toponym for their surname, as in the case of D. João Martins, called Soalhães, bishop of Lisbon and Archbishop of Braga. Despite the historical weight that attaches to this Church of Soalhães, particularly in the so-called Middle Ages (12th to 14th centuries), there are few traces that tell us about that time, as the Church was profoundly transformed in the 18th century, into a search for updating the temple within a post-Tridentine aesthetics and liturgy.

Three elements persist (visible) from medieval times that we believe were preserved only as a testament to an antiquity that was intended to be reaffirmed in this monument. The main portal, which already bears witness to a proto-Gothic organization, dates back to the 14th century.

Chronology

875 - Reference to the Basilica of Saint Martin;

1120 - Reference to the monastery of Soalhães;

centuries XIII (ends) or XIV (beginnings) - Probable date of the rebuilding of the Church of Soalhães, based on the remaining Romanesque remains;

1304 - Institution of the majorat of Soalhães;

1320 - Soalhães, along with Mesquinhata and Santa Cruz are taxed at 400 pounds;

1514, July 15th - Date of charter of Soalhães;

1733 - Date that marks the reforms in the structure and integrated heritage of the Church (marked in the high choir);

1740-50 - Probable chronology for the tile campaign in the nave of the Church of Soalhães;

1977 - Classification of the Church of Soalhães as a National Monument (decree n.º 129). This classification included only the Romanesque elements;

1980, March 26th - Dispatch extending the scope of classification of the Church of Soalhães contemplated by decree n.º 129 of 1977;

1997, December 31 - Decree establishing a new wording for the official designation of the Church;

2010 - Integration of the Church of São Martinho de Soalhães in the Route of the Romanesque;

2017-2018 - Restoration of the nave's tile coverings, carvings and sculptures, and conservation of the roofs, within the scope of the Route of the Romanesque.