Igreja do Carmo, Faro

GPS 37.02021270896647, -7.93483774256744

The Church of the Third Order of Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo or Igreja do Carmo is a religious monument located in Largo do Carmo, city of Faro. It is classified as a Property of Public Interest (Decree no. 95/78, DR, I Series, no. 210, of 12-09-1978).

History and characteristics

The Carmo Church is one of the most important historical monuments in the Algarve region. It was founded in 1713 by Bishop D. António Pereira da Silva, inside the 17th century fence. Father Frei Manuel da Conceição was responsible for designing the initial church, where the Third Order of Our Lady of Monte do Carmo was based. After demolition of the initial façade and central body, from 1747 onwards a new, larger building was built, for which the master bricklayer Diogo Tavares (author of the architectural design and construction direction) was responsible. The work continued over time, with the top floor being built in 1755. The west tower was finished in 1878 and the one on the east side was completed at the beginning of the 20th century. XIX. The west tower has a carillon of 9 bells, cast by Gregório José da Silva, in 1876, from the bronze of the initial four bells.

The church has a single nave, with a chancel and four side chapels. "This is a good example of Baroque architecture with a symmetrical façade in the style of D. João V. The front has three sections. The wider central one has an access bay flanked by two Corinthian columns, topped by fires and with twisted in the shaft. On each side, a niche under a canopy with the statues of Saint Elias and Saint Teresa". Inside, the tile covering stands out, as well as the gilded carvings, created by the best sculptors in the region, with emphasis on the masters Gaspar Martins, Manuel Martins and Miguel Nobre. Also noteworthy is "the ornamentation of the sacristy and the dispatch house, the Capela dos Ossos, adjacent to the church (1816), as well as the collection of imagery from the Triumphal Procession".