Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Açores > Lajes das Flores > Mosteiro
The Church of the Holy Trinity is located in the village of Mosteiro, part of the municipality of Lajes das Flores, on the Azorean island of Flores. Erected on the island's southwest coast, the church is serenely situated in a walled and level churchyard, offering a point of interest that stands out in the local landscape.
This parish church, whose origins date back to the 19th century with additions from the 20th century, features revivalist-inspired architecture. Its facades, mostly plastered and painted an immaculate white, create a pleasing visual contrast with the surrounding nature. The main facade is crowned by a triangular pediment and features a straight lintel portal, above which a large circular oculus opens. The bell tower, with a square base, stands out for its two-story structure, the bulbous dome that tops it, and the pinnacles that accentuate its silhouette.
Inside, the space is bathed in abundant natural light, highlighting the white walls and artistic elements. The choir loft, built of wood and supported by robust stone corbels, invites a closer look at the details. The ceilings, also made of wood, were painted to create a welcoming and visually rich environment, with paneling in the main nave and an elegant false barrel vault in the chancel. The church's artistic richness is particularly notable in its carved altarpieces. The main altarpiece and the two collateral altarpieces, all with a concave plan, are profusely decorated with polychrome and gilded carving, testifying to the work of carvers such as Manuel Augusto Ferreira da Silva and Father Guilherme.
The history of the Church of the Holy Trinity began in 1846, the year inscribed above the main portal of its facade. The original edifice of this place of worship is owed to the generosity of António de Freitas, a Florentine who returned wealthy from Macau and, as a sign of gratitude, financed the church's construction. In 1850, Mosteiro was elevated to a parish, granting the church the status of the community's spiritual center. Between 1896 and 1915, the temple underwent significant expansion, transforming an old chapel into the parish church we observe today, with the addition of a new chancel and the enrichment of its interior. A marble plaque, visible near what was the old baptistery, pays homage to Maria Luísa Rodrigues Jorge, who played a fundamental role in financing a major restoration and bequeathing assets to the parish, underlining the deep connection between the community and its church.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.4131915,-31.2509092
Coordinates DMS: 39°24'47.5"N 31°15'3.3"W
Weather Mosteiro
On-duty Pharmacy Mosteiro
