Church of Saint Michael or Church of Saint Michael of the Gregórios including all its contents

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Beja > Castro Verde > Almeirim

Location

The church is located near the village of Casével, in the parish of Castro Verde and Casével, in Portugal.

History

The church was originally a hermitage dedicated to Saint Michael, built in the 16th century. In the 18th century, a spring with healing powers was discovered nearby, which led to the expansion of the hermitage into a church.

Classification

The Church of Saint Michael has been a Building of Public Interest since 1971.

Description

The church building has an L-shaped plan, with a simple exterior appearance. The main facade has a portal and a rectangular large window, topped by a triangular gable. The interior of the church is richly decorated, with a barrel vault painted in trompe-l'oeil, blue and white tiles on the walls, and mosaics on the floor. Also noteworthy are the wooden pulpit, the triumphal arch with the royal arms, and the chancel covered in historical tiles.

Church Complex

In addition to the church, the complex includes ruins of annexes that were dormitories, stables, and support houses for pilgrims. The Fonte Santa building nearby is also noteworthy.

Pilgrimage

The church is part of the pilgrimage route, which includes a visit to the Fonte dos Milagres (Fountain of Miracles), the site of the miracle that gave rise to the pilgrimage.

Construction and Expansion

The original hermitage was founded at the end of the 16th century and gained fame in the 18th century due to the discovery of the miraculous spring. The construction of the new church and the fountain building took place between 1715 and 1720, with the completion of the church and the coverings in 1776.

Scientific Recognition

Recent studies have revealed special geological properties in the area of the spring, which contributes to its reputation as a place of treatment and healing. However, the healing properties are not related to the water, but rather to the geological characteristics of the site.

Restoration

In 2020, an agreement was signed for recovery and restoration work on the church, as part of a broader project to preserve religious heritage in the municipality of Castro Verde.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igreja_de_São_Miguel_dos_Gregórios

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