Church of Saint Peter

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Coimbra > Figueira da Foz > Figueira da Foz > Buarcos e São Julião

Location

The Church of São Pedro stands at the union of the old parishes of Buarcos and São Julião, an area with its own charm in the city of Figueira da Foz. The building is situated in Largo de São Pedro, a welcoming urban space with a gardened atrium that invites tranquility and contemplation of its main facade.

The Memory of Centuries

This church, although predominantly from the 18th century, holds within it the memory of a previous temple dating back to the 16th century. Its history was marked by the great earthquake of 1755, which left it in ruins. The reconstruction, initiated in 1766, gave rise to the building we can observe today, bearing witness to the resilience and devotion of the community over the centuries.

A Look at the Architecture

The building presents Baroque-style architecture, with a longitudinally developing plan. The main facade is distinguished by its ashlar quoins and is topped by a triangular pediment, which incorporates a blind oculus and a stone cross at the vertex. To the left, the bell tower, with its two bodies and concave-surfaced finials, gives the church a characteristic profile. The main portal, with a curved lintel and frame, is surmounted by a niche housing the image of the patron saint, flanked by large windows with gratings.

Art in the Interior

Upon entering the Church of São Pedro, one discovers a single nave interior, with side chapels that enrich the space. The high choir, with its balustrade resting on columns, and the triumphal arch connecting to the lower and narrower main chapel are notable elements. The main chapel features a main altarpiece in talha (carved wood) and a barrel-vaulted ceiling with coffers. The walls of the nave and the main chapel display a tile dado, including examples of Hispano-Moorish tiles, polychrome and relief, in one of the side chapels. The church's furnishings are particularly rich, with a 16th-century stone altar in the Coimbra Renaissance style, originally from the demolished Church of Santa Cruz de Redondos, and a 17th-century gilded carved wood altar in the National Baroque style with twisted columns, coming from the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Nazaré in Buarcos. These elements testify to the artistic and historical value accumulated over time.

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