Church of Our Lady of the Conception

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Leiria > Ansião > Ansião > Além da Ponte

Location

The Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição is located in the Além da Ponte area, in Ansião, occupying a central and prominent position in the locality. Its urban integration is harmonious, blending into the heart of the town and marking the local landscape with its imposing presence.

An Architecture with History

This religious temple is a remarkable example of Mannerist architecture, its construction dating back to the late 16th century, as attested by an inscription on the lintel of the main portico from 1595. Over the subsequent centuries, up to the 20th century, the building underwent interventions that shaped its current configuration. The main facade, with its portal of fluted columns and a curved pediment, is crowned by an image of the Virgin in a niche and topped with a trilobed cross. Beside it, the bell tower rises with four bell chambers and clock faces, integrated into a mansard, giving it a distinctive silhouette.

Richness of Interior Details

Inside, the church reveals a spacious and luminous area, divided into three naves by arches resting on monolithic columns. The ceiling of the central nave is a barrel vault, while the side naves have full vaults. Noteworthy is the presence of a wainscoting of blue and white tiles that covers a large part of the temple's interior, adding a touch of color and pattern.

In the side chapels, visitors can observe details such as a 17th-century baptismal font, a chapel with a carved arch whose intrados is decorated with florets, and a coffered ceiling with figures of angels. Another chapel displays a 16th-century stone bas-relief representing a Calvary. The main chapel, also with its coffered ceiling, houses the main altarpiece, featuring the image of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, the patroness of the temple. These elements, together, invite a careful observation of the art and history intertwined in this sacred space.

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