Church of Our Lady of Remedies

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Beja > Serpa > Serpa > Bairro de São Francisco

Location

The Church of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios is located in the town of Serpa, in the Bairro de São Francisco. It occupies a prominent and slightly more isolated position in relation to the town centre, lending it a tranquil atmosphere.

The site features a churchyard around the building, which is walled and has stone benches. This outdoor space invites a pause and allows appreciation of the building in a serene setting, typical of Serpa's peri-urban region.

Architectural Details

This temple exhibits religious architecture with Mannerist characteristics. Its plan is longitudinal, composed of a main nave and a chancel that is narrower and lower. Sacristies and other annexes are attached to these bodies.

On the main facade, facing west, the triangular pediment stands out. At the centre is the main portal in stonework, with a straight lintel decorated with a frieze and cornice, topped by an oculus. A small bell-gable rises above the pediment's gable. Inside, the ceilings are barrel-vaulted, and the triumphal arch connecting the nave to the chancel features ornamental painting. The chancel has a main altarpiece in what is known as the National style, and on the side walls, vestiges of decorative painting can be observed. On the Gospel side, there is a wooden pulpit. An interesting architectural element, considered rare in the region, is the presence of a choir loft above the nave's main entrance.

Historical Notes

The church's origin dates back to the 17th century. However, the building underwent significant intervention and general remodelling in the early 19th century, more precisely in 1810. This date marks the construction of the choir loft, the pulpit, and the altar table, among other alterations.

Inside the church, an inscription can be found on an elliptical cartouche above the choir loft, documenting the names and positions of those responsible for the work carried out in 1810, including the judge, scribe, treasurer, and general procurators of the time. Among the annexes that make up the complex, there was also a house intended for the hermit who looked after the place.

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