Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Faro > Faro > Faro > Horta da Areia
The Church of Our Lady of the Foot of the Cross is located in the historic area of Faro, within Horta da Areia. The building occupies a corner, opening onto a partially wooded square and narrower streets, which gives it a characteristic urban setting. Its position, once close to or integrated into the city's 17th-century wall, underscores its historical relevance in Faro's urban fabric.
This temple has its roots in the 17th century, with its construction recorded in the mid-1640s. Over the centuries, it underwent several transformations and improvements, including significant works after the 1755 earthquake, which altered and enriched its appearance. The inclusion of the hermitage within the city's fortified wall from 1659 is a testament to its importance in Faro's past.
The church's main facade presents a fusion of styles, with Mannerist elements at the base and Rococo-style reformulations. It is adorned with sculptures dating from the late 19th century, representing Charity and Faith. At the rear of the building, a monumental Passo (a small square-plan chapel) stands out, featuring a remarkable panel of blue and white cut-out tiles, illustrating Calvary, including the figure of Christ at the foot of the Cross. It is also possible to observe marble crosses in some windows, marking points of the Way of the Cross.
In contrast to the relative sobriety of the exterior, the interior of the Church of Our Lady of the Foot of the Cross reveals a profusion of ornamentation. The single nave, covered by a barrel vault, displays mural paintings and, on the side walls, framed paintings with representations from the Old Testament. In the chancel, covered by a dome, there is a gilded altarpiece and figurative tile panels, some of which date from the 17th and 18th centuries. The triumphal arch preceding the chancel is also profusely decorated with gilded carving.
This place was, in times past, the seat of a confraternity dedicated to Our Lady of the Foot of the Cross, which demonstrates the strong popular devotion it gathered. A curiosity linked to its history is the reference to an ancient tradition: before the construction of the surrounding houses, the light of a lantern that burned every night inside, visible from the sea, served as a guide to fishermen, who came there to give thanks for the help received on their voyages.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.0156769,-7.9292898
Coordinates DMS: 37°00'56.4"N 07°55'45.4"W
Weather Faro
On-duty Pharmacy Faro
