Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Faro > Tavira > Tavira > Santa Maria e Santiago
This building is located in the Santa Maria and Santiago area of Tavira, occupying a prominent position on one side of Praça Zacarias Guerreiro. The urban surroundings are characterized by a calm and well-preserved atmosphere, combining historical and everyday features of the city. The church's facade, facing the square, lends a scenic character to the ensemble, enhanced by the architectural setting of the neighboring buildings.
Located in the city's old core, the church benefits from its proximity to traditional thoroughfares and pedestrian areas, allowing for a peaceful visit integrated into a tour of Tavira's historic center.
This temple dates back to the 15th century and is associated with the former Royal Hospital of Espírito Santo. The first religious structure on the site would have been the primitive Chapel of São Brás, from which some Gothic elements are still visible in the current chapel.
Over the centuries, the building underwent various interventions, being significantly damaged by the 1755 earthquake. The reconstruction, which began before the earthquake, was led by the architect Diogo Tavares de Ataíde and extended until the late 1760s. In 1747, the church received the title of Royal Chapel by order of D. João V, coming under the direct protection of the Crown.
The church features an irregular octagonal plan, with a single nave and cut angles, an uncommon configuration in the Algarve region. The architectural typology shows a fusion of styles, with a predominance of Baroque and vestiges of late Gothic, integrated into successive construction and restoration campaigns.
Inside, the highlight is the main altar decorated with trompe l'oeil painting, where gilded carving and fake columns are simulated. The royal coat of arms and crown present in this altarpiece signify its connection to the Royal House. There are also four side altarpieces, two in Rococo style and two with Neoclassical tendencies, reflecting different phases of artistic intervention.
One of the chapels preserves a vault with ogival ribs, featuring the coats of arms of the Melo and Costa families. These decorative elements, of medieval tradition, point to the importance of local lineages in the city's history. The small rose window and the sepulchral slab dated 1549 reinforce the memorial and symbolic dimension of the space.
Among the religious images on display, those of Our Lady of Carmo and Saint Teresa, from the former Carmo Convent of Tavira, stand out. These sculptures are part of the church's artistic heritage and establish links with the local religious history.
Currently, the church houses an exhibition nucleus dedicated to the history of the city's first hospital. The space offers an interpretation of Tavira's welfare and religious past, through architectural, artistic, and documentary elements. The connection between the temple and the old hospital is an integral part of the proposed narrative, allowing for an understanding of the role played by this institution throughout the centuries.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igreja_de_São_José_do_Hospital
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.12344894423053,-7.650643501439982
Coordinates DMS: 37°07'24.4"N 07°39'2.3"W
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