Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Leiria > Figueiró dos Vinhos > Figueiró dos Vinhos > Bairro do Areal
The Parish Church of Figueiró dos Vinhos is located in a central area of the town, in the Bairro do Areal, standing out in the urban landscape. Its main façade opens onto a welcoming churchyard, accessible by a stairway, offering a viewpoint over the surrounding environment. Its position is prominent, integrated into the heart of Figueiró dos Vinhos, making it a landmark for visitors to the town.
This temple, also known as the Church of Saint John the Baptist, has its roots in the turn of the 15th century, having been built on the initiative of the religious of Santa Cruz de Coimbra over a previous structure. Its long history is visible in the fusion of architectural periods that make up the whole. Inside and out, it is possible to observe a coexistence of styles that include Manueline, Mannerism, Baroque, and elements of Romanticism, a testament to the transformations the building has undergone over the centuries. Since 1922, the Parish Church of Figueiró dos Vinhos has been officially classified as a National Monument, a recognition of its heritage and cultural value.
The church's architecture reveals a longitudinal plan, organized into three rectangular naves, a chancel, and side structures. The main façade, the result of a reconstruction led by the architect L. E. Reynaud in the late 19th century, presents a revivalist arrangement, flanked by two towers, one of which is crowned with a pyramidal top. The main portal, in the Mannerist style, is notable for the image of its Patron Saint, John the Baptist, a work by the sculptor Simões de Almeida (Tio), framed by windows and railings of Neo-Gothic inspiration. Inside, the three naves are separated by eight granite columns with Ionic capitals, and the chancel is covered by a barrel vault, giving it a distinct atmosphere.
The church's artistic heritage is remarkable and varied. In the chancel, a sumptuous altarpiece in gilded woodwork, in the King John V style, captures the eye. The side walls of this chapel are covered with a set of azulejo tiles from 1716, depicting scenes from the life of Saint John the Baptist. On the main altar, the painting "The Baptism of Christ," painted by José Malhoa in 1904, stands out for its grandeur. Among other sacred art pieces, a Gothic image of the Holy Trinity, the statue of the Lord Jesus of the Agony, also by Simões de Almeida (Tio), and a 15th-century carved stone tomb belonging to Ruy Vasques, Lord of Figueiró, and his wife D.ª Violante de Sousa, decorated with lions, shields, and angels, are worthy of note. Several 16th-century paintings can also be admired, complementing the artistic richness of the site, which also includes a baptismal font chiselled by local artisans.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.902205,-8.2750639
Coordinates DMS: 39°54'7.9"N 08°16'30.2"W
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