Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Beja > Castro Verde > Castro Verde > São Sebastião
The Church of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios is located in the heart of Castro Verde. It is situated in the central area of the town, with its main facade facing Praça da República, which gives it a prominent presence in the urban space. It is easily found in the town's main square.
Looking at the exterior, the church reveals a style that combines the sobriety of Mannerism, sometimes referred to as "plain style", with more decorative touches of the Baroque. The main facade, oriented South, features simple lines flanked by pilasters. Above the main portal, with a straight lintel, a volute pediment in marble stands out. Above it, a rectangular window is topped by the coat of arms of Portugal. The bell tower, with a rectangular plan, is to the left of the facade and has round-arched windows. The side facades are reinforced by buttresses, and the chancel and sacristy end in triangular gables with pinnacles.
Upon entering, one finds a single nave covered by a barrel vault, which features a painting executed in the mid-20th century. The chancel, located at the back, displays a marbled stucco altarpiece, whose throne is highlighted by gilded and painted carving. The arch separating the nave from the chancel is covered in gilded stucco and bears the royal coats of arms in carving. The side altars in the nave are in Baroque style and the pulpit has a gilded carved soundboard.
The interior walls are decorated with tile panels. In the chancel, blue and white tiles illustrate moments from the life of the Virgin Mary. On the nave walls, other tiles, some of Dutch origin, and large canvases painted by the Algarve artist Diogo Magina depict episodes related to the Battle of Ourique, namely the apparition of Christ to D. Afonso Henriques. There are also elements of statuary from the 17th and 18th centuries that enrich the space.
The church is also known by the name of Igreja das Chagas do Salvador (Church of the Wounds of the Savior). Its history mixes legend and documented facts. According to tradition, its foundation dates back to D. Afonso Henriques and is associated with a cave where a hermit would have lived who prophesied his victory in the Battle of Ourique. Although the current structure is mostly from the late 16th century, the connection to the battle is strong, as demonstrated by the paintings inside.
The church, initially under the invocation of the Wounds of the Savior, also became known as Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Our Lady of Remedies) after the donation of an image of the Virgin in 1630, to which miraculous qualities were attributed, reflecting popular devotion. The works were financed, for about two centuries, with revenues from the old Castro Fair. Throughout the centuries, the building underwent renovations and restorations, namely the major intervention in the mid-18th century, the reconstruction of the vault after its collapse in 1867, and repairs after the 1969 earthquake, remaining an important historical and artistic testimony of the town. The property is classified as a Monument of Public Interest.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.6993247,-8.0842933
Coordinates DMS: 37°41'57.6"N 08°05'3.5"W
Weather Castro Verde
On-duty Pharmacy Castro Verde
