Church of Vilar de Frades or Church of the Monastery of the Loios

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Braga > Barcelos > Vilar de Frades > Areias de Vilar e Encourados

Location

- The Church of Vilar de Frades, also known as the Church of the Monastery of Lóios, is located in Areias de Vilar, in the municipality of Barcelos, district of Braga.

- The church is situated on the left bank of the Cávado river.

History

- The site was originally a Benedictine monastery, founded in 566 by Saint Martin of Dume.

- In the 11th century, the monastery was rebuilt and passed to the Congregation of the Canons Regular of St. John the Evangelist in 1425.

Architecture

- The church features remarkable architecture, with Romanesque elements and vestiges of the original monastery.

- Highlights include the vault of the chancel and transept, in addition to the Manueline portal on the main facade.

- The chancel has a vault with tierceron ribs, built according to new architectural techniques.

- There are side chapels with almost quadrangular structured vaults, adorned with ornate corbels.

National Monument

- The Church of Vilar de Frades has been classified as a National Monument since 1910.

Works in the 16th Century

- At the beginning of the 16th century, several works were sponsored by D. Diogo de Sousa.

- Highlights include the chancel, the cross, and the side chapels.

- João de Castilho may have been the architect involved in these works.

Works in the 17th Century

- Due to damage caused by a storm in 1616, new works were carried out.

- They included the construction of the churchyard in front of the church facade and the demolition of old and unsafe parts of the convent.

Notable elements

- The church has a portico accessing the churchyard with the image of Saint Lawrence Justinian.

- There is a tower with battlements and an eagle, symbol of the Congregation.

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

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