Our Lady of Conception Parish Church

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Castelo Branco > Vila Velha de Ródão > Vila Velha de Ródão

Location:

The Mother Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição stands in an open and inviting space, in the heart of Vila Velha de Ródão. Its position on a slope provides a distinct urban setting, with the main facade opening onto a square that offers a wide perspective of the building.

Past and Historical Relevance

This church has deep roots in the region's history, with its existence already referenced in ancient documents from the 13th century. However, its current construction, as we know it, had a significant impetus at the end of the 16th century, specifically between the years 1594 and 1608, by order of Bishop D. Nuno de Noronha. A notable detail is the date of 1595 engraved on the main portal, which marks the era of its construction. Throughout the centuries, the temple was subjected to various interventions that ensured its preservation and adaptation, with important restoration works recorded in the 20th century.

Architecture and Sacred Art

The architecture of the Mother Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição presents a fusion of Mannerist and Baroque styles, reflecting the periods in which it was built and enriched. The exterior, with its white facade, is marked by a main portal with carved stonework frames and the bell tower, which rises laterally, crowned by a spire. Inside, the church reveals a layout of three naves, supported by solid Tuscan granite columns. A prominent visual feature is the tile wainscoting that covers part of the walls. The artistic richness of the temple is notable in its altarpieces, especially the lateral ones and the main altarpiece, which display the beauty of Baroque gilded and polychrome carving, with details such as Corinthian columns, testifying to the apogee of 18th-century religious art.

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