Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 38.01495331511022, -7.862873946486537

The Church of Santa Maria da Feira, also referred to as Parish Church of Santa Maria da Feira and Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção. in Alentejo, it is located in Largo de Santa Maria, in the parish of Beja (Salvador and Santa Maria da Feira), in the city and municipality of Beja, district of the same name, in Portugal.

The Church of Santa Maria da Feira and the set of buildings to which it belongs and the attached Tower have been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1959.

History

It is believed that the original temple dates back to the Visigothic period, possibly in the 7th or 8th century. When the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula was converted into a mosque.

In 1259 a new church was built, under the invocation of Santa Maria, on the initiative of Afonso III of Portugal. The parish began to be designated as "Santa Maria da Feira" since, also by license of King Afonso III, in 1261, the area around the church began to be held the village fair. In 1270 the temple was donated to the Order of Avis.

In 1922, the architect Pardal Monteiro designed a new headquarters for Caixa Geral de Depósitos, built next to the church, in the place of the former chapel of Nossa Senhora do Rosário. Since then, the church has been separated from the bell tower by the Caixa building.

Characteristics

Outside the temple, the galilee stands out, built around 1500 in the Manueline-Mudejar style, typical of the Alentejo region between the 15th and 16th centuries. The ogival arcades of the porch are separated by cylindrical buttresses with conical ends surrounded by chamfered merlons. The medieval bell tower has a precious bell from the 14th century.

The body of the church was completely remodeled in the last quarter of the 16th century, which eliminated almost all of the medieval remains of the temple. On the outside of the chevet, however, the original Gothic structure of the chancel can still be seen, polygonal in shape with buttresses and large windows with broken arches.

The interior has a longitudinal plan, with three naves of equal height covered with vaults and separated by cylindrical columns with Tuscan capitals. This architectural scheme follows that of other late-Renaissance churches of the time, such as the Church of Santo Antão in Évora.

The neoclassical high altar (end of the 18th century), in wood, is sober. The gilded side altars date from the 17th and 18th centuries and are of great quality. Among these, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Rosário stands out, with carvings carried out between 1677 and 1681 in a national style according to a project by Manuel João da Fonseca, with a monumental Tree of Jesse (genealogical tree of Jesus Christ). Another important altar is that of São Miguel Arcanjo, in polychrome carving in the Baroque style. The Altar of the Blessed Sacrament, in polychrome marble in neoclassical style, was built at the end of the 18th century and has a canvas representing the Last Supper by Pedro Alexandrino de Carvalho.

Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 38.01495331511022, -7.862873946486537

The Church of Santa Maria da Feira, also referred to as Parish Church of Santa Maria da Feira and Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção. in Alentejo, it is located in Largo de Santa Maria, in the parish of Beja (Salvador and Santa Maria da Feira), in the city and municipality of Beja, district of the same name, in Portugal.

The Church of Santa Maria da Feira and the set of buildings to which it belongs and the attached Tower have been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1959.

History

It is believed that the original temple dates back to the Visigothic period, possibly in the 7th or 8th century. When the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula was converted into a mosque.

In 1259 a new church was built, under the invocation of Santa Maria, on the initiative of Afonso III of Portugal. The parish began to be designated as "Santa Maria da Feira" since, also by license of King Afonso III, in 1261, the area around the church began to be held the village fair. In 1270 the temple was donated to the Order of Avis.

In 1922, the architect Pardal Monteiro designed a new headquarters for Caixa Geral de Depósitos, built next to the church, in the place of the former chapel of Nossa Senhora do Rosário. Since then, the church has been separated from the bell tower by the Caixa building.

Characteristics

Outside the temple, the galilee stands out, built around 1500 in the Manueline-Mudejar style, typical of the Alentejo region between the 15th and 16th centuries. The ogival arcades of the porch are separated by cylindrical buttresses with conical ends surrounded by chamfered merlons. The medieval bell tower has a precious bell from the 14th century.

The body of the church was completely remodeled in the last quarter of the 16th century, which eliminated almost all of the medieval remains of the temple. On the outside of the chevet, however, the original Gothic structure of the chancel can still be seen, polygonal in shape with buttresses and large windows with broken arches.

The interior has a longitudinal plan, with three naves of equal height covered with vaults and separated by cylindrical columns with Tuscan capitals. This architectural scheme follows that of other late-Renaissance churches of the time, such as the Church of Santo Antão in Évora.

The neoclassical high altar (end of the 18th century), in wood, is sober. The gilded side altars date from the 17th and 18th centuries and are of great quality. Among these, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Rosário stands out, with carvings carried out between 1677 and 1681 in a national style according to a project by Manuel João da Fonseca, with a monumental Tree of Jesse (genealogical tree of Jesus Christ). Another important altar is that of São Miguel Arcanjo, in polychrome carving in the Baroque style. The Altar of the Blessed Sacrament, in polychrome marble in neoclassical style, was built at the end of the 18th century and has a canvas representing the Last Supper by Pedro Alexandrino de Carvalho.