Cruzeiro de Nossa Senhora da Guia (Manueline cross next to the Alberto Sampaio Regional Museum)

Category: Religious Architecture > Stone Cross

District: Braga > Guimarães > Guimarães > Centro Histórico de Guimarães e Zona de Couros

Location

This cruzeiro is located in the heart of Guimarães, right in the Historic Centre, an area classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is serenely positioned in Largo de Nossa Senhora da Guia, right near the building that houses the Alberto Sampaio Regional Museum. Its location allows visitors to enjoy a tranquil environment of great heritage value, immersed in the medieval urban fabric that characterizes this city.

Legacy and Symbolism

The Cruzeiro de Nossa Senhora da Guia is a unique testament to the art and faith that shaped Guimarães in past centuries. These monuments are ancestral religious landmarks, erected at crossroads, squares, or next to churches, serving as points of prayer, devotion, and identification of routes or places with spiritual significance. This particular monument invokes the protection of the Virgin of Guia, a figure of special veneration, who traditionally supports and guides her devotees, imbuing the site with a deep sense of resilience and solace.

Manueline Details

Classified as Manueline, this cruzeiro reflects the artistic richness and spirit of the Portuguese Age of Discoveries, marking the beginning of the 16th century. Its structure features the distinctive elements of this style, which combines Gothic influences with maritime motifs and exuberant ornamentation. One can observe the attention to detail in the carving of its column and in the representation of the cross, which typically displays the figure of Christ on one side and, on the reverse, the image of Our Lady, inviting contemplation and introspection. The ornamentation may include cordage, knots, phytomorphic elements (plant motifs), or aspects related to royal heraldry, highlighting its construction period and the mastery of the artisans of that time.

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