Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Faro > Aljezur > Aljezur > Igreja Nova
The Mother Church of Aljezur is located in the heart of the village, in the area known as Igreja Nova (New Church). Its central position, flanked by Rua da Igreja (Church Street) and Largo Primeiro de Maio (First of May Square), was carefully chosen in the late 18th century by Bishop D. Francisco Gomes de Avelar. This location, formerly known as Sítio da Barrada, was valued for its healthiness and ventilation, marking the planning of a new urban axis for the community.
This neoclassical-style temple was inaugurated in 1809, an important landmark for Aljezur. Its construction arose from the need to replace the old parish church, which had been severely damaged by the 1755 earthquake. The initiative came from the Bishop of the Algarve, D. Francisco Gomes de Avelar, with the aim of establishing a new urban center after the devastation. Although the initial population had some resistance to the change of location, the first stone was laid in 1795 and the work, designed by the Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri, was completed fourteen years later, consolidating the "New Church" as the center of the village.
The interior of the Mother Church of Aljezur reveals an organization that recalls a small cathedral, composed of three naves, a transept, and an apsidal main chapel, flanked by collateral chapels. One of the most striking elements is the altarpiece of the main altar, a gilded carving in the neoclassical style, highlighting the Baroque image of Nossa Senhora da Alva (Our Lady of Dawn) with the Infant Jesus in her lap, the patron saint of Aljezur. This painted and gilded wooden image is flanked by two notable 17th-century statues. The ceiling of the central nave also features a decoration with a star supported by a golden crown, where the inscription Stella Matutina can be read. Inside, there is also a Manueline-inspired baptismal font, and it is possible to observe images that were saved from other local temples that succumbed to the 1755 earthquake.
The Mother Church is intrinsically linked to the Legend of the Holy Skulls, a popular narrative about two medieval farmers. Their skulls, kept in a box inside the temple, were considered to possess miraculous healing powers, attracting pilgrims seeking relief for various ailments. This tradition reflects the deep connection of the place to popular beliefs and practices throughout the centuries. The church's dedication to Nossa Senhora da Alva (Our Lady of Dawn) itself refers to the legend of the reconquest of Aljezur Castle, which occurred at dawn, highlighting the village's identity and history. Even before its construction, the surrounding area was a site of human occupation since time immemorial, with vestiges dating back to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, which gives the place an even deeper temporal dimension. Over time, the church underwent interventions and challenges, including the 1969 earthquake which required reconstruction work, but its importance to the community and its heritage value have always been preserved.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.3163532,-8.7954936
Coordinates DMS: 37°18'58.9"N 08°47'43.8"W
Weather Aljezur
On-duty Pharmacy Aljezur
