Church of Saint Sebastian

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Faro > Castro Marim > Castro Marim > Bairro Celorico Drago

Location:

The Church of São Sebastião is located in the Celorico Drago Quarter, integrated into the urban fabric of the town of Castro Marim. Its position is historically relevant, as it was situated near one of the old entrances to the village, marking a point of reference in the local landscape.

Historical Legacy:

This temple has a history intrinsically linked to the events that shaped Castro Marim. Its construction was an initiative of King D. João IV in 1650, at a time of recovery and reinforcement of the village's defenses. The need to build a defensive fort led to the demolition of an earlier chapel dedicated to São Sebastião, and the monarch then ordered the construction of this new church to ensure that the population would not be without their place of worship. This information is clearly recorded in an inscription carved above the main portal, a direct testimony to its origin.

Later, in 1838, the Church of São Sebastião assumed a new role when it became the seat of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Castro Marim, an institution with a strong presence in the community.

Exterior Architectural Features:

Observing the Church of São Sebastião from the outside, one encounters an architecture of simple and unpretentious lines, characteristic of the vernacular style of the period. Its facades are of a single plane, plastered and painted white, with a light grey baseboard. The absence of large decorative motifs on the exterior reflects a period of restraint, contrasting significantly with the artistic richness that the visitor discovers inside.

The main facade is topped by a slightly curved gable, crowned by an iron cross. It includes a straight arch door, flanked by small rectangular windows, and an arched bell tower, which houses the bell and contributes to the modest but distinctive silhouette of the building.

Interior and Artistic Decoration:

The interior of the Church of São Sebastião is an artistic revelation that surprises with its ornamentation. Far from the exterior sobriety, the space is abundantly decorated with tempera paintings in trompe l'oeil, a 17th-century technique that creates the illusion of depth and architectural elements. Flowers, volutes, angels, and motifs imitating marble adorn all the walls and ceilings, creating a visually dynamic environment.

The nave, with its tiled floor, is covered by a false barrel vault, complemented by painted elements surrounding the royal coat of arms. On its left side, there is a pulpit and a niche, where a painting with a view of Jerusalem can be admired. The triumphal arch preceding the chancel is also elaborately crafted, with cartouches and angels holding festoons and displaying the attributes of the patron saint, São Sebastião. The chancel, covered by a vault similar to that of the nave, features a painted altarpiece in a rustic and archaic style, with representations of São João Batista and São Marcos, and in the center, an image of São Sebastião. Recently, the church's stained-glass windows underwent requalification work, highlighting their heritage value.

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