Fonte Arcada Church

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Braga > Póvoa de Lanhoso > Fonte Arcada e Oliveira > Arrifana

Location

The Church of Fonte Arcada, also known as the Church of São Salvador, is situated in a tranquil rural area of the parish of Fonte Arcada e Oliveira, in the municipality of Póvoa de Lanhoso. It stands on a small churchyard, in a slightly elevated position that offers a perspective over the surrounding landscape. This place, historically called "do Mosteiro" (of the Monastery), evokes its ancient connection to a Benedictine community.

Historical Roots

The foundations of this church date back to an ancient history, linked to the creation of a Benedictine monastery dedicated to São Salvador, established around 1067. Although the original conventual structures have disappeared over the centuries, the presence of the current temple is a testament to this heritage. The church we observe today was mostly built between the late 13th and early 14th centuries, with some significant restoration interventions in the 16th century. Since 1910, its historical and architectural value has been officially recognized, being classified as a National Monument.

External Architectural Elements

Upon contemplating the main façade, its sobriety, typical of the Romanesque style, complemented by elements from a later phase, becomes apparent. The entrance portal stands out, with three sets of arches resting on six finely sculpted columns, and a tympanum where a representation of an Agnus Dei can be observed. Above, an elegant rose window of a Gothic character adds a distinctive touch. On the south elevation, a lateral portal, with its broken arch and two archivolts, displays a tympanum adorned by a cross pattée, flanked by a sun and a moon. The church's chancel, on its exterior, is surrounded by columns with worked capitals, supporting a cornice with arches that allude to Lombard arcades.

The Interior and the Chancel

Inside, the church features a single nave, covered by a wooden ceiling that creates a welcoming atmosphere. The chancel is one of the main points of interest. With a remarkably high proportion and a shape that combines rectangular and semicircular sections, it is covered by a ribbed stone vault. Its interior walls reveal two levels of decorative elements: in the lower area, five blind arcades are observed, supported by columns with elaborately sculpted capitals featuring vegetal motifs, which evoke pre-Romanesque traditions. In the upper part, worked slits, which resemble small portals, contribute to a unique luminosity and remarkable spatiality. Within it, it is still possible to find vestiges of ancient medieval frescoes, adding a layer of depth to the visit.

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