Church of Saint Peter of Lomar

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Braga > Braga > Ventoso > Lomar e Arcos

Location

The Church of São Pedro de Lomar is located in the village of Ventoso, integrated into the union of parishes of Lomar and Arcos, in the municipality of Braga. Situated in a peri-urban area of the parish, it is surrounded by a tranquil environment of houses and yards. The paved churchyard, slightly uneven, offers an inviting arrival space, with staircase access on the north face.

Memories of a Distant Past

The history of the Church of São Pedro de Lomar dates back to a very ancient period, with the first references to a Benedictine monastery on the site dated 667. This monastery, one of the oldest of Saint Benedict in the region, was a significant religious center throughout the centuries. In the 16th century, the institution came under the purview of the Order of Christ, marking a new phase in its long existence. Although the current church is the result of various interventions and styles, its foundations echo the medieval monastic presence that flourished there.

Architectural Features

The building of the Church of São Pedro de Lomar is a testament to architectural evolution over time, featuring a fusion of Romanesque, Mannerist, Baroque, and Neoclassical elements. The structure, predominantly in granite masonry, maintains a longitudinal plan with a single nave and a narrower chancel. Notable is the main pointed arch portal, adorned with a frieze featuring interlinked circle ornaments. On the south side facade, a Romanesque portal with two archivolts and an interesting corbel table can be observed, with some stones displaying zoomorphic decorations, including the figure of a horse. The bell tower, of Mannerist character, is crowned by a granite spire, topped with a pinnacle and a weather vane.

The Interior and its Details

Upon entering the church, visitors discover an interior that reflects the diversity of eras that shaped the temple. The nave is covered by a stuccoed barrel vault, which houses the image of Saint Peter. The choir loft, supported by a stone arch, features a wooden railing with a balustrade. The chancel, once lined with tiles, boasts a barrel vault with phytomorphic decoration and stars. Particularly notable are the Neoclassical carved altarpieces, which, although built later, enrich the space with their polychromy in shades of blue, white, and gold, dedicated to invocations such as Our Lady of Sorrows, Saint Philomena, and Saint Blaise. In the sacristy, a stone lavabo, decorated with a cherub, reveals the attention to functional and artistic details of the past.

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