Church of Our Lady of the Waves or Church of Saint Peter Gonçalves Telmo

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Faro > Tavira > Tavira > Santa Maria e Santiago

Location

Located in the city of Tavira, in the parish of Santa Maria, in the municipality of Tavira, Algarve.

Origin

It was built in the time of King Manuel I of Portugal by the Brotherhood of São Pedro Gonçalves Telmo, an association of fishermen and sailors. The church is also known as Igreja dos Mareantes or Igreja do Compromisso Marítimo.

Style

The church follows the Renaissance style and suffered damage in the 1755 earthquake, being partially rebuilt afterwards.

Decoration

The chancel has an image of São Pedro Gonçalves Telmo, the patron saint of fishermen. The ceiling is decorated with a perspective painting and the remaining decoration follows the Baroque style.

Heritage

Formerly, the church had a red silk banner, with the royal arms embroidered in gold and the symbol of the caravel, which represented the Maritime Commitment of Tavira. However, these objects were stolen.

Importance

The church is an important point for tourists interested in the history of fishermen and the sea, as well as being a good example of Portuguese religious architecture.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igreja_de_Nossa_Senhora_das_Ondas

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