Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Coimbra > Montemor-o-Velho > Abrunheira, Verride e Vila Nova da Barca > Marujal
Located in the Union of Parishes of Abrunheira, Verride and Vila Nova da Barca, in the municipality of Montemor-o-Velho, the Church of Our Lady of the Conception stands in the locality of Verride, specifically in the Marujal area. It is situated atop a hill, standing out in the urban landscape of the historic center.
It is flanked by two walled, landscaped churchyards, with iron gates that invite a pause to appreciate the tranquil surroundings and the prominent position of the building.
The history of this temple dates back to an uncertain period, however, its current appearance is the result of various significant interventions throughout the centuries. The reforms of 1611, and subsequently those of 1868 and 1882, were crucial in shaping the building we know today, giving its facade lines that evoke the 18th-century style.
The bell tower, which rises to the right of the church's main body, is a notable element. In addition to housing four bells, one of them displays an inscription that reveals its age, dating from 1797 and bearing the signature of "André de Argos", a testament to the durability and art of the era.
The interior of the church reveals an artistic richness worth discovering. Its longitudinal plan consists of a main nave, a narrower and lower chancel, and three side chapels that complement the structure, in addition to two collateral altars.
Among the side chapels, that of the Blessed Sacrament stands out, where part of the stone altarpiece is attributed to the School of João de Ruão, dating from 1543 and featuring transitional elements between the Renaissance and the Joanine style. Its walls are covered with 17th-century tiles, arranged in a checkered pattern, and it is protected by an 18th-century wrought iron railing. On the pavement of this chapel lie the church's founders, D. Luís Moscoso Osório and D. Catarina Maria, whose tomb is a simple flat gravestone without an epitaph.
The main altar, dedicated to Our Lady of the Conception, is a focal point of great grandeur. Its gilded carved altarpiece, with twisted columns and an elaborate baldachin, is a striking expression of national Baroque, inviting contemplation of the craftsmanship of the era.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.1267358,-8.6896387
Coordinates DMS: 40°07'36.2"N 08°41'22.7"W
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