Our Lady of Ó Church - Ançã Main Church

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Coimbra > Cantanhede > Ançã

Location

Located in Ançã, in the municipality of Cantanhede, the Church of Nossa Senhora do Ó is situated in the heart of the village.

Its presence defines the surrounding urban environment, offering a central and easily accessible landmark for those exploring the locality.

Historical and Architectural Legacy

The Mother Church of Ançã, also known as the Church of Nossa Senhora do Ó, is a building with a long and rich history, classified as a Property of Public Interest. Its current appearance resulted from two significant construction phases. One occurred in the 17th century, a period when the three-nave structure, separated by arcades supported by Doric columns, was consolidated.

From that period, its beautiful portal stands out, an example of the Mannerist style, adorned with pairs of Corinthian columns. The chancel, with its three chapels, including the main chapel with an elegant stone coffered vault, is also a 17th-century heritage, as are some of the triumphal arches of the side chapels.

A second phase of intervention, between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, was motivated by a fire. This reconstruction gave it the crowning of the facade and the notable main altarpiece.

Artistic and Sculptural Elements

The interior of the church houses a valuable collection of sacred art pieces from various periods. Particularly noteworthy is the 16th-century image of Our Lady with the Child, a polychrome limestone sculpture approximately 88 cm high, attributed to Master Afonso, known for his reference work at the Machado de Castro National Museum. This piece depicts the Virgin seated with the Child on her lap, showing remarkable quality and homogeneity.

In the main chapel, there are stone sculptures from the second half of the 16th century, representing Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which reflect the style of the school of João de Ruão. The side chapels, in turn, display beautiful examples of gilded woodcarving from the 17th and 18th centuries, with corresponding religious imagery, adding artistic richness to the environment.

The Facade and the Interior

The church's main facade, with its undulating finial, was built during the 19th-century reconstruction phase, as attested by an inscription indicating "Era de 1812". Well-integrated with the 17th-century Mannerist portal, it features a large central window, flanked by two smaller ones, aligned with the three interior naves.

Inside, the three naves are separated by arcades of five arches each, and the choir occupies the first bay, supported by three frontal arches. The main chapel stands out for its stone paneled vault, and among the side chapels, some retain Renaissance-style domes, adding architectural diversity to the complex.

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