Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Bragança > Mogadouro > Penas Róias
The Parish Church of Penas Róias, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, is located in the heart of the village. It is integrated into the urban environment, surrounded by local dwellings, and its placement adapts to the gentle slope of the terrain.
Situated on Rua da Igreja (Church Street), its central position makes it an easy-to-find landmark for visitors to Penas Róias.
The history of this church dates back to distant times, being already mentioned in documents from 1199, during an exchange of goods between King D. Sancho I and other entities. Throughout the centuries, the church was intimately linked to the military orders that held power in the region.
After the extinction of the Order of the Temple in the early 14th century, its assets and rights, including the patronage of this church, were transferred to the newly created Order of Christ. The church became part of the important Comenda de Mogadouro (Commandery of Mogadouro), thus testifying to the influence of these orders on local life.
Observing the exterior of the church, one notes a simple and robust structure. The building features an elongated rectangular plan, composed of the main nave and the chancel, both of the same height. A rectangular sacristy is leaning against the left side facade.
The facades, painted white, culminate in a straight gable at the front, facing west. It is on this gable that the characteristic double belfry in stonework rises, with arches housing the bells, and a circular clock beneath. At the top, a smaller bell-gable crowned by a cross and lateral pinnacles completes the structure. The main portal, with a perfect arch, shows vestiges of an old porch.
Ancient accounts, such as visitations from the early 16th century, describe the chancel as being of "good stonework" and mention the altar on stone steps. Although the paving at the time was not ideal, the order was for it to be improved with tiles or slabs, giving an idea of the materials used.
The Parochial Memoirs of 1758 offer another portrayal, indicating that the church possessed, besides the main altar dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and the Blessed Sacrament, other altars dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, Saint Sebastian, and the Infant Jesus. It is also recorded that the building did not suffer significant damage from the great earthquake of 1755, withstanding the strong tremors.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.3914118,-6.6541703
Coordinates DMS: 41°23'29.1"N 06°39'15.0"W
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