Church of Saint Mary or Estremoz Main Church

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Évora > Estremoz > Estremoz > Santo André

Location

, Located in the parish of Estremoz (Santa Maria e Santo André), in the municipality of Estremoz, District of Évora, Portugal.

Classification

, Classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1967.

History

, Originally, there was a Romanesque church on the same site, mentioned in a cantiga by Afonso X, the Wise (1252-1284).

, The construction of the current church began in 1560, under the order of Cardinal D. Henrique, and was completed in the 17th century.

, In 1730, Francisco Xavier do Rego described the church as a priory of the Order of Avis.

Architecture

, Possibly designed by the architect Miguel de Arruda or Afonso Álvares.

Master Builder

Pero Gomes.

, The church's floor plan is an example of geometry and symbology, based on the golden ratio.

, Sober facade, with a white wall and three doors, the central one being the tallest, with Ionic columns, architrave and triangular pediment.

Interior

, Highlights include the large marble columns.

Various Chapels and Altars

, Baptismal Chapel (Renaissance style).

, Altar of Souls (1788).

, Altar of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

, Altar of the Blessed Sacrament.

, Main chapel with altarpiece from 1620.

, Altars of Saint John the Baptist (Renaissance) and Saint Benedict.

, Old Altar of the Body of God, now dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima.

, Altar of Our Lady of Brotas.

, Altar of the Eleven Thousand Virgins, with a painting of a Portuguese caravel.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igreja_de_Santa_Maria_(Estremoz)

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