Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Leiria > Caldas da Rainha > Fanadia
In the locality of Fanadia, in the municipality of Caldas da Rainha, the Church of Saint Sebastian and Saint Anne stands at the upper part of the village. Situated on the crest of a hill, the temple dominates the surrounding urban landscape. A churchyard, accessible via a recent staircase, invites a moment of observation of the church itself and its surroundings, and at the base of this staircase there is an old well, known as the "church well".
The church features religious architecture dating back to the 18th century, characterized by its simplicity and well-defined volumes. The main facade, plastered and painted white with yellow details, has a discreet entrance portico with wooden doors, topped by a large window that illuminates the interior. At the top of the gable, a Latin cross marks the sacred character of the building. Adjoined to the south side facade, the bell tower stands out slightly, displaying four perfect round arch openings, adorned with ashlar masonry, where a bell is housed. The tower's dome-shaped roof is topped by an iron cross and four pinnacles at the corners, giving a distinctive touch to the ensemble.
Upon entering the church, visitors are greeted by an interior with a single nave and a chancel. The distinct flooring is in white and gray marble in the nave and pink marble in the chancel. The nave ceiling, divided into three parts, is adorned with twelve coffers displaying vegetal motifs and stars, one of which, signed by the painter Vítor Mata, depicts Our Lady of Conception. A special highlight is the baptismal font, flanked by a perfect arched recess covered with tiles illustrating the scene of the Baptism of Christ.
In the chancel, accessed by a stone triumphal arch, the barrel-vaulted ceiling is painted sky-blue and decorated with stars, highlighting a central medallion alluding to the Eucharist. The altarpiece, in polychrome stone, is organized into three shell-arched niches, separated by Corinthian columns. In these niches are the images of Saint Sebastian, patron saint of the church, the Virgin and Child, and Saint Anne teaching the Virgin. It is interesting to note that, as early as 1758, the image of Saint Sebastian was considered miraculous.
The Church of Saint Sebastian and Saint Anne of Fanadia has historical roots dating back, at least, to the 18th century. Documents from 1758 already referred to a "very ancient hermitage" on the site, built by the community itself and initially dedicated only to Saint Sebastian, which suggests a deep connection of the population to the temple since remote times. The structure observed today probably resulted from a reconstruction in the mid-18th century, a period during which elements such as the triumphal arch and the main altarpiece were introduced. Over time, the building underwent various interventions, including the construction of the bell tower in the 19th century and more recent renovations of the churchyard paving, expansion, and renewal of paintings and other artistic details, ensuring the preservation of this space of faith and culture in Fanadia.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.3654941,-9.0746199
Coordinates DMS: 39°21'55.8"N 09°04'28.6"W
Weather Fanadia
On-duty Pharmacy Fanadia
