Church of Saint Saviour of the Burrow

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Aveiro > Arouca > Burgo > Figueiredo

Location

Located in the village of Burgo, in the municipality of Arouca, the Church of São Salvador stands on a platform halfway up a hillside. This rural and isolated site offers a wide view over the surrounding valley. Access is via a staircase leading to an elevated platform, and to the south of the church, there is a cobbled path flanked by old-construction houses, giving the environment a tranquil and picturesque character.

Gothic and Baroque Features

The Church of São Salvador do Burgo displays a fascinating combination of architectural styles, bearing witness to centuries of history and evolution. Its initial structure, with origins in the 15th century, reveals Gothic influences, evident in elements such as the lateral pointed arch doorways and cornices supported by corbels. However, the church underwent a significant remodelling in the 18th century, which gave it a new main façade, imposing pilasters, and a bell tower. This Baroque phase brought with it a curved lintel portal and a window above the choir, decorated with volutes and a cartouche displaying two opposing dolphins, details that enrich the building's exterior.

The Richness of the Interior

Upon crossing the threshold of the Church of São Salvador do Burgo, visitors discover a space where art and devotion meet. Its interior houses a high choir and a stone pulpit, notable for its ample corbel ornamented with acanthus motifs and a finely carved and gilded wooden parapet, with panels decorated by asymmetrical cartouches. The altarpieces, also in gilded carving, adorn the altars, and carefully elaborated valances complete the aesthetic of the space. One of the most notable features is the ceiling of the nave body, composed of a series of coffers, whose panels are painted with colourful cartouches, lending a vibrant atmosphere to the ensemble.

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