Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Castelo Branco > Idanha-a-Nova > Idanha-a-Velha
The Main Church of Idanha-a-Velha is located in the heart of this historic village, a site with a heritage dating back to Roman and Visigothic times. It is harmoniously integrated into its age-old urban fabric, flanked by cobblestone streets, bearing witness to centuries of history. Access to the temple is via a staircase leading to the churchyard, an elevated space that gives it a notable presence in its surroundings.
This temple is a fundamental landmark in the history of Idanha-a-Velha, standing on a site of continuous religious importance since Antiquity. Its foundations delve into remote eras, with evidence suggesting its origins may trace back to a Roman temple or the Visigothic Cathedral of Egitânia, one of the most important ecclesiastical centers on the Iberian Peninsula at the time. Over the centuries, the building has undergone multiple transformations and reconstructions, incorporating elements from various periods. Although the current building reveals significant interventions from later periods, its essence and location continue to echo the depth of a Christian past that spans more than a millennium. In the early 21st century, restoration work sought to reconcile its rich history with present-day needs.
The church has a rectangular floor plan, with a single nave and a chancel. Attached to the main body are the sacristy and a square-sectioned bell tower. The main façade is clad in granite stonework and is distinguished by its portal. This portal, with a doubled semicircular arch, is decorated with bas-reliefs of vegetal motifs. Above the portal, a quatrefoil oculus and a small niche are visible.
Inside, the space unfolds into a single nave. The walls are whitewashed and feature a white tile wainscoting. The flooring is made of granite slabs, and the current ceiling, a result of recent interventions, takes the form of a false barrel vault. Among the fixed elements inside are a quadrangular granite pulpit, supported by a corbel, and an area for the baptistery, located beneath the bell tower and accessible through an arch.
The temple houses a collection of sacred art pieces, a testament to its history and devotion over the centuries. This collection includes various works of sculpture, textiles, and painting that enrich its heritage. Of particular note in the collection are a 17th-century altarpiece canvas depicting the Virgin of the Mantle, and a Baroque-style statue of the crucified Christ.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.9965576,-7.1434146
Coordinates DMS: 39°59'47.6"N 07°08'36.3"W
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