Parish Church of Santa Cruz da Graciosa

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Açores > Santa Cruz da Graciosa > Santa Cruz da Graciosa

Location

The Mother Church of Santa Cruz da Graciosa is located in the town of Santa Cruz da Graciosa, more precisely in the Santo Amaro area, belonging to the municipality of the same name. It stands in a vast churchyard, from which the temple is accessed via a staircase, offering a broad perspective on the building and its urban surroundings.

A Secular Heritage

The history of the Mother Church of Santa Cruz da Graciosa dates back to the 15th century, with the existence of a primitive temple. Over the centuries, the church has undergone several interventions and reconstructions, with its current configuration being mainly shaped by the work completed in 1701. This building, which bears witness to the architectural and religious evolution of the island, is classified as a Property of Public Interest, also integrated into the Classified Zone of Santa Cruz da Graciosa.

Architecture and Contrast

The exterior of the church stands out for its Baroque style architecture, with a facade that plays with visual contrast. The mouldings and quoins in black basalt stone, typical of the region, stand out against the whitewashed backgrounds. The main portal, of great nobility, is topped by a large double window that abundantly illuminates the interior. To the left of the main body, a bell tower crowned by a pyramidal spire imposes itself, completing the church's distinctive silhouette.

Interior and Artistic Details

Upon entering, the visitor encounters a spacious interior, divided into three naves, with the central one being higher. These are separated by perfect archways, resting on cylindrical pillars. Despite the predominance of the Baroque style, the temple preserves notable details of the Manueline style, especially in the ribbed vault of the baptistery. The side walls house various chapels with altars and gilded woodcarving retables, characteristic of the 18th century, which include several wooden sculptures, including an expressive "Christ Bound to the Column". Also noteworthy, for their figurative compositions, are the 18th-century tile panels present in the chapels of Our Lady of Conception and Saint Anne.

Treasures of Sacred Art

The Mother Church is the guardian of a valuable collection of sacred art, its greatest treasure being the Altarpiece Polyptych, dated circa 1550. Attributed to the Master of Arruda dos Vinhos, this set of six oil paintings on wood is considered one of the most important of the 16th century existing in the Azores. The panels depict biblical scenes related to the Passion of Christ and the Invention of the Holy Cross, such as "The Way to Calvary", "Calvary", "The Deposition of Christ", "Pentecost", "Saint Helena and the Invention of the Cross", and "Emperor Heraclius and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross". Recently restored, the polyptych had the "Calvary" panel reincorporated into the center of the altarpiece, resuming its original arrangement. In addition to these masterpieces, the church houses a valuable 18th-century tile panel and a set of Sino-Portuguese canvases of Jesuit inspiration.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt