Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Braga > Amares > Caires
The Parish Church of Santa Maria de Caires is located in the town that bears its name, Caires, within the municipality of Amares. It is situated in a central area of the settlement. Its position on the hillside gives it a unique setting within the surrounding landscape.
The history of the Church of Santa Maria de Caires dates back to the 11th or 12th centuries, a period to which its original construction is attributed based on architectural remains. Over time, this temple held the status of an abbey, serving as an important landmark in the ancient parish of Santa Maria de Quairas, as it was formerly known. Its patron saint is Our Lady of Purification (Our Lady of the Candles).
The church's current structure, though resulting from various interventions over the centuries, still reveals traces of its primitive Romanesque design. The main building features a single nave. Inside, there is the main altar, dedicated to the patron saint, and collateral altars with their respective images, including a chapel dedicated to the Holy Christ.
Near the church entrance, one can observe several large, rounded stones. These stones display ancient inscriptions or letters on their surfaces, whose meaning has been lost to time. They are considered elements of great antiquity, with some associating them with evidence related to the Roman presence in the region, perhaps linked to the ancient Geira road.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.6426347,-8.3581948
Coordinates DMS: 41°38'33.5"N 08°21'29.5"W
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