Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Castelo Branco > Castelo Branco > Castelo Branco > Sé e São Pedro
The Church of Santa Maria do Castelo is located in the heart of Castelo Branco's historic center, situated within the perimeter of the ancient walls that define the Castle. The building stands on a granite spur, in a high area of the city, offering a setting linked to defense and the origin of the settlement.
Access to the church is via a street inside the walled area, near where the castle's keep was located. The site is surrounded by a large churchyard with tall trees, creating a peaceful environment with views of part of the city and the surrounding landscape.
The history of this temple dates back, at least, to the 12th century, with indications suggesting the existence of an even older place of worship, perhaps pre-Roman. The church was rebuilt by the Order of the Knights Templar in the 13th century, a time when Castelo Branco received its charter and the church was already referred to as belonging to this military order.
Throughout the centuries, the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo assumed the role of the city's mother church and was the stage for important events, such as the meeting of the Assembly of good men in its churchyard during the 14th century. However, its strategic location within the fortress also exposed it to various destructions throughout history, especially during periods of war, such as in the 17th and 18th centuries, and again in the early 19th century by French troops, who left it almost totally ruined.
After each period of destruction, the church underwent successive reconstructions and adaptations, resulting in the configuration we see today, which largely reflects interventions carried out in the first half of the 19th century. Despite the transformations, some vestiges of the older constructive phases still remain.
The church features a longitudinal plan, consisting of a nave, chancel, sacristy, and bell tower, the latter topped by a dome. The facades, plastered and painted white, display a sober appearance. The main facade stands out for the framing of the flattened arch portal, which connects to the upper window.
Inside, the ceiling is a false barrel vault, being painted wood in the nave and plastered in the chancel. The lateral pulpits can be observed, and in the chancel, a carved altarpiece which, despite the vicissitudes, retains characteristics of the Mannerist style, featuring polychrome carving. On the side walls, it is possible to identify the presence of openings that were walled up over time and, on one side, vestiges of the primitive Romanesque loopholes.
This place carries with it the memory of the city's evolution, from its origins linked to the Templars. In 1979, excavations in the churchyard revealed the existence of pre-Roman funerary stelae, indicating an even earlier human occupation in the area. The church was also, in the 16th century, the burial place of the poet João Roíz de Castelo Branco.
Currently, the building of the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo is undergoing a requalification process to host an Interpretation Center dedicated to the figure of the Templar Master associated with the city's foundation. This intervention aims to preserve the heritage and give it a new function, allowing visitors to better understand the Templar history and the origin of Castelo Branco in an innovative context.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.8253828,-7.4970096
Coordinates DMS: 39°49'31.4"N 07°29'49.2"W
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