Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Leiria > Alvaiázere > Almoster > Galega
Situated in the picturesque village of Almoster, in the municipality of Alvaiázere, the old Parish Church stands in the Galega area. This historical monument occupies a central and prominent place in the town's urban core. It is surrounded by houses, with its main and side façades facing an unpaved churchyard, where a large tree dominates the landscape.
Built in the 17th century, this church was the main center of worship in Almoster for many years, known by various names over time, such as Igreja do Senhor Salvador do Mundo (Church of the Lord Savior of the World), Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Neves (Church of Our Lady of the Snows), and, currently, affectionately called "Igreja Velha" (Old Church). Its history was intimately linked to the Monastery of Lorvão, which held the patronage and tithes of the parish.
The temple suffered the consequences of the French Invasions, particularly in 1810 and 1811, when it was plundered and destroyed, losing its most precious objects. Throughout the 19th century, significant interventions were carried out for its recovery. However, after the construction of a new church in the 1960s, this old temple was deconsecrated, beginning a period of degradation and even being used for various purposes, such as a poultry farm or warehouse. At the end of the 20th century, the Almoster Parish Council acquired the building, with a project for the consolidation of the ruins and reuse for cultural activities, marking a new chapter in its long history.
The church's architecture is characterized by its simple rectangular plan, with a single nave and a narrower, lower chancel. Although the interior is currently in ruins and the main nave is without a roof, vestiges of its original structure and its former grandeur can still be observed.
The façades, once plastered with traces of polychromy, display architectural elements transitioning between the Mannerist and Neoclassical styles. On the main façade, there is a straight lintel portal surmounted by a large window. The right side façade stands out for its "Porta do Sol" (Sun Door), a portal similar to the main one but of smaller dimensions. Particularly notable is the structure attached to the left side façade, which features a door in a Neo-Renaissance style, richly decorated with bosses, cartouches, rosettes, hearts, and geometric motifs. Inside, visitors can still identify the markings of the old choir loft, the holy water fonts, and the location of the pulpit, which allow us to glimpse the richness and religious life that once filled this space.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.8455224,-8.4482086
Coordinates DMS: 39°50'43.9"N 08°26'53.6"W
Weather Almoster
On-duty Pharmacy Almoster
