Church of Saint John the Baptist (Figueiró dos Vinhos) or Parish Church of Figueiró dos Vinhos

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Leiria > Figueiró dos Vinhos > Santarém > Bairro do Areal

Location and History

Located in the center of Figueiró dos Vinhos, the Church of São João Batista (Saint John the Baptist) has been a National Monument since 1922.

Built in the late 15th century by the friars of Santa Cruz de Coimbra, the temple exhibits a mixture of architectural styles throughout the centuries: Manueline, Mannerist, Baroque, and Romantic.

Architecture and Details

The building has a longitudinal plan with three naves and a main chapel, highlighting the Mannerist portal and the neo-Gothic railing.

Inside, granite columns divide the naves, with Ionic capitals, while the main chapel has a barrel vault and the upper choir a lowered arch.

The facade was rebuilt in the 20th century by architect L. E. Reynaud, gaining a revivalist arrangement.

Artistic Heritage

The main chapel houses a gilded altarpiece in the D. João V style and tiles dating from 1716 with scenes from the life of Saint John the Baptist.

The painting "The Baptism of Christ" by José Malhoa (1904) stands out on the High Altar.

Among other works of sacred art, there is a Gothic image of the Holy Trinity, the "Lord Jesus of Agony" by Simões de Almeida (Tio), a stone tomb of Ruy Vasques and his wife D.ª Violante de Sousa, several 16th-century paintings, and a Baptismal Font carved by local artisans.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igreja_de_São_João_Batista_(Figueiró_dos_Vinhos)

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