Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Beja > Vidigueira > Vila de Frades > Bairro Doutor Alfredo Caetano da Silva
The Main Church is located in the center of the village of Vila de Frades.
It is precisely situated in Largo de São Cucufate, making it a central landmark in the locality and easy to find when exploring the village.
The construction of the current Main Church of Vila de Frades began at the end of the 17th century, in 1696. This was an ambitious project for its time and for the size of the village.
The temple was inaugurated in 1707, although the vaulted ceiling was only completed in 1710. This building, constructed in the Baroque style, likely replaced an earlier church with Gothic features dating back to the 14th century. The initial construction was directed by a master stonemason from Lisbon, João Gomes Coelho.
The temple stands out for its large dimensions, being considered one of the largest in the diocese.
Its monumentality is notable, both in its exterior volume and the richness of its opulent interior. This grandeur and its elaborate aesthetics, visible in the decorative details and furnishings, suggest significant patronage in its construction. One of the most remarkable points inside is its main altar, recognized as one of the most beautiful in the entire Alentejo region. There are also four side altars that complement the nave's space.
Inside the Main Church, a collection of ancient sculptures and images of artistic and historical value is preserved.
Notable among these are the 17th-century image of Saint Cucufate, the patron saint of the parish, believed to have come from the Benedictine monastery in the ancient Roman villa. There are also images of Our Lady of the Assumption (circa 1700), Our Lady of the Conception (late 17th century), Saint Peter (17th century), and Saint Sebastian (another 17th-century image), among other pieces that comprise its collection.
During studies or interventions in the building, traces of ancient tombs were found in the nave of the church.
One of these tombs is indicated as the possible final resting place of the poet João Xavier de Matos, a local figure who died in Vila de Frades in 1789. However, most of the epitaphs on these graves are now virtually impossible to decipher, holding secrets from the past.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.2132249,-7.8231356
Coordinates DMS: 38°12'47.6"N 07°49'23.3"W
Weather Vila de Frades
On-duty Pharmacy Vila de Frades
