Quinta do Tanque House or Cerveiras House and the sculptural group of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian, in the attached chapel.

Category: Civil Architecture > Farm

District: Aveiro > Anadia > Peneireiro > Tanque

Location:

Situated in the Tanque area, in the locality of Peneireiro, municipality of Anadia, this manor house is located in an urbanized space but isolated by walls and lush vegetation, creating a tranquil and private environment. The surroundings are marked by constructions of varying artistic value, which further highlights the imposing presence of this building.

The complex is accessible from Rua D’Avale and Largo Machado de Castro, with the property maintaining a visual and symbolic connection with the surrounding green landscape. The monumental portal to the left of the house serves as an entrance to the courtyard and the rear areas, where the building and the chapel impose themselves on the composition of the space.

Architecture of the Manor House

The Casa da Quinta do Tanque, also known as Casa dos Cerveiras, is a noble building with a rectangular plan and three floors: ground floor, first floor, and attic. Its origin dates back to the late 18th or early 19th century, with architectural elements associated with late neoclassicism.

On the main facade, organized into three vertical sections, seven openings stand out on the ground floor, six barred windows and a central door, with corresponding openings on the first floor. The central openings of the upper floor converge into a triple balcony, creating a symmetrical rhythm that accentuates the central body of the building. At the top, dormer windows with railings appear, integrated into a cruciform roof. To the left, a monumental stone portal provides access to secondary constructions of no relevant architectural expression.

Attached Chapel and Religious Sculpture

Attached to the right side of the house, the longitudinal-plan chapel has a simple facade, with a straight lintel portal and a niche above the lintel. The composition is crowned by a false bell tower in a semicircular arch. The Pombaline style of the exterior facade contrasts with the sculptural richness of its interior.

On the main altar, there is a remarkable stone altarpiece dating from the first half of the 16th century, attributed to an anonymous Coimbra master. This Renaissance altarpiece includes decorative elements such as Corinthian pilasters and grotesque motifs, as well as niches with full-round statuary. One of the most relevant highlights of the ensemble is the sculptural group of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian, dated to the late 18th century, attributed to Joaquim Machado de Castro, one of the most important Portuguese sculptors of that period.

Heritage Value

This architectural and artistic complex has been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1977. The house and the chapel represent different phases of the region's history, from 19th-century manorial architecture to religious sculpture of Renaissance and Baroque matrix.

In addition to its artistic value, the space allows for a rich reading of the aesthetic and functional evolution of a noble Portuguese house with a private chapel. The presence of the sculptural group of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian adds symbolic value, connecting art, devotion, and heritage in a cohesive piece.

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