Empire of the Holy Spirit of São Brás

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Açores > Praia da Vitória > São Brás

Location

The Holy Spirit Império of São Brás is located in the civil parish of São Brás, a quiet place within the municipality of Praia da Vitória, on Terceira Island, Azores. Its presence stands out in the Church Square of the parish, serving as a landmark and meeting point in the central area of the locality. Its elevated position offers an inviting perspective over the surrounding space.

A Historical Legacy

This império is an integral part of the rich Historical and Religious Heritage of Praia da Vitória, a testament to the island's deep cultural and devotional roots. Its construction dates back to the 19th century, with a marked date of 1875. A significant intervention for its preservation occurred in 1956, ensuring that this structure remained a vibrant symbol of local faith and history over time.

The Architecture and Its Details

The Império of São Brás features a robust and aesthetically interesting construction. Its rectangular plan rises in a single story upon a prominent base, with an inviting balcony extending along the main facade, accessible via five semicircular steps. The main and side facades are adorned with three openings, each topped by reverse-curved arches that give them a distinctive touch. Between these openings, simple colonnettes stand out, while within the arch of the central door and at the corners of the facade, twisted colonnettes are observed, highlighting the attention to detail.

At the top of the main facade, a reverse-curved pediment is flanked by pinnacles and culminates with the representation of a crowned Azorean goshawk of the Holy Spirit, an emblematic symbol. In the tympanum space, a decorative vegetal element frames an elliptical cartouche that records the dates of its construction and restoration. The stone masonry construction, plastered and whitewashed, contrasts with the plinth, quoins, cornice, and the frames of the openings, which display stonework painted in shades of grey and black. The gable roof is covered with traditional Azorean half-pipe tiles. To the left of the main building, a support pantry is observed, sharing similar architectural features, with its own balcony and stonework details, completing the visual ensemble of the império.

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