Our Lady of the Martyrs Church

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Évora > Estremoz > Mártires > Santa Maria e Santo André

Location

Situated in the quiet area of Santa Maria e Santo André, in the locality of Mártires, within the municipality of Estremoz, the Church of Nossa Senhora dos Mártires (Our Lady of the Martyrs) is set in a gently sloping rural environment. This position lends it a serene character. The surrounding area is notable for its rich historical presence, with Roman vestiges extending to an ancient water reservoir and an underground channel, suggesting human occupation long before the hermitage itself.

Medieval Memories and Historical Evolution

The Church of Nossa Senhora dos Mártires stands out as one of the few temples in the municipality of Estremoz that preserves medieval characteristics, particularly from the Gothic period. Although the first direct reference to its existence dates back to 1493, the presence of the Confraternity of Nossa Senhora dos Mártires as early as 1379 suggests an earlier origin. Traditional chronicles attribute its foundation, begun in 1371, to the royal initiative of D. Fernando I, subsequently completed by Constable D. Nuno Álvares Pereira. This site once had an attached hospice and hospital, demonstrating its role in welcoming and assisting people throughout the centuries. From the 16th century onwards, the management of the temple passed to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Estremoz (Holy House of Mercy of Estremoz), which remains its current owner.

Architectural and Artistic Features

The hermitage presents an interesting superposition of styles, reflecting the various periods of its construction and remodelling. The most striking element is, without doubt, its chancel, of Gothic design and recognized architectural purity, classified as a National Monument since 1922. Inside, a remarkable high choir, transitional to the 16th century, exhibits Manueline period influences, with its depressed arch adorned by pendants and half-balls, as well as braided columns, all crafted in marble. Complementing the interior richness, the 18th-century tile panels, in early Rococo style, fill the space with episodes from the Life of the Virgin and Christ, in vibrant blue and white tones. On the exterior, the robust flying buttresses and the peculiar anthropomorphic gargoyles are elements that capture attention.

An Archaeological Perspective

Beyond its religious and architectural history, the Church of Nossa Senhora dos Mártires is situated in a landscape with a profound archaeological dimension. A mere five hundred meters to the northeast, one finds the "Tanque dos Mouros" (Moorish Tank), an ancient water reservoir of Roman origin, from which an underground channel extends, crossing the southern part of the hermitage. Investigations and discoveries of construction material and Roman tombs near the medieval temple support the theory that the chapel may have had its foundations upon an earlier late-Roman Christian basilica, emphasizing the continuity of human presence and faith in this location over millennia.

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