Church of Saint Mary

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Castelo Branco > Vila de Rei > Vila de Rei

Location

The Church of Santa Maria, also known as the Old Parish Church, is located in Vila de Rei, the center of the municipality. Its position in the urban core highlights the historical importance it has always held for the local community, marking the village's landscape.

Historical Background

The roots of the Church of Santa Maria date back to a distant past, possibly the 13th and 14th centuries, a period associated with the reign of Queen Saint Isabel. It is believed that the original temple had a more imposing stature and a more elaborate artistic character than its current appearance. Its history was marked by a dramatic episode in 1807, when Napoleon's soldiers, during the French Invasions, plundered and set fire to it, even using it as a stable. This desecration led to a swift, though simplified, reconstruction, as there was no other space in the village capable of accommodating the community.

Architecture and Evolution

The church observed today is the result of several interventions over the centuries. After the 1807 fire, the altars, once adorned with gilded carving, were replaced by more modest versions, and the ceiling was placed directly on the columns that still remain, giving the space a lower height compared to its original form. The main door that serves as an entrance today dates from a renovation carried out in 1899. Later, in 1919, the altars received new repairs. The last major restoration works, which shaped the church's current appearance, took place in 1992, covering the roof renovation, and a complete cleaning and painting, both inside and out.

Artistic Collection and Devotion

Inside the Church of Santa Maria, visitors can appreciate a collection of five altars, which testify to the richness of local devotion. The main altar is dedicated to Our Lady of Conception, the patron saint of the parish. In addition to this, highlights include the altars of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Souls, the altar of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and a small adjacent chapel, formerly dedicated to Saint Alexius and then to the Blessed Sacrament, which today houses the devotion to Our Lady of Fátima. The space also houses images of faith, such as the Lord of the Steps and the Dead Lord, as well as small figures of Saint Joseph, Saint Agnes, Blessed Nuno, and Saint Thérèse, enriching the artistic and spiritual heritage of the temple.

Heritage Significance

The Church of Santa Maria is recognized as a monument of great historical and patrimonial significance for the municipality of Vila de Rei. Its importance is accentuated by archaeological findings discovered in the surrounding area, which corroborate the antiquity and relevance of this site in the community's development throughout time. Its structure and collection are a reflection of the transformations and resilience of local history, making it a point of interest for those seeking to understand the region's cultural legacy.

Its current use is religious, serving as a parish church.

The property of the building belongs to the Catholic Church, specifically the Diocese of Guarda.

The building's structure is exposed granite ashlar, with wooden doors and a traditional ceramic tile roof. The altarpieces are made of gilded and polychrome wood, and the high choir and other furniture are wooden, complemented by a stone pulpit and a holy water font.

Inside, the walls are plastered and painted white. The ceilings feature false barrel vaults in varnished wood and elaborate coffers, both in the nave and the chancel. These coffers have paintings depicting scenes from the life of Christ and various saints, adding a layer of art and narrative to the space. The floors are paved with granite slabs.

It can be observed that on the main facade, facing west, the gable is crowned by a Latin cross. The entrance is marked by a straight lintel portal with a prominent frame. On the left side, there are traces suggesting the existence of an old porch.

In its bell tower, which has three tiers, a metallic clock can be found on the second tier, and on the last, two perfect arch windows housing the bells. The tower is topped by a Latin cross flanked by two decorative elements in the shape of finials.

Curious elements of the interior include a perfect arch confessional with red curtains and a quadrangular stone pulpit with volutes. In the chancel, the main altar in polychrome and gilded carving is notable, with four Solomonic columns and a central throne, accompanied by two pedestals with images and a granite altar table.

A frieze of tiles in the chancel is a detail that adds color and pattern to the space.

The painted ceilings of the church are attributed to Isidoro Faria, known as the "Painter of Beira," a native of Vilares, an artist who significantly contributed to the decoration of religious spaces in the region.

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