Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Leiria > Leiria > Regueira de Pontes > Coutada
The Mother Church of Regueira de Pontes stands prominently in the center of the locality, in the Coutada area, in Regueira de Pontes, municipality of Leiria. It is surrounded by a spacious, paved churchyard, separated from the public road by a low wall with iron gates, creating a tranquil and inviting atmosphere. Its central position makes it a landmark in the village's urban landscape.
This church, dedicated to Saint Sebastian, has its roots in an earlier 18th-century chapel, which was elevated to a parish church in 1712. Its current form is mainly due to a profound remodelling that occurred between 1874 and 1880, driven by D. Júlia Dores da Silva, whose name is inscribed on a cartouche on the main façade. This intervention endowed the building with architectural elements that blend Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical styles, giving it a unique and striking visual identity. The presence of renowned master builders, stonemasons, and gilders, such as the Lopo family, underlines the importance of this phase in the temple's history.
The main façade of the Mother Church is a point of interest, flanked by two imposing bell towers. Each tower features three levels, with the upper one adorned by perfect arched windows and crowned by a Borrominian-inspired cornice, culminating in bulb-shaped domes. In the central body of the façade, a depressed arch portal with pilasters and a triangular pediment welcomes visitors. Above, a niche houses the image of the patron saint, Saint Sebastian, while the 19th-century bells, engraved with the inscription "IN HOC SIGNO VINCES," bear witness to the passage of time.
Upon entering, visitors are enveloped by an interior that reveals remarkable decorative unity. The single nave, covered by a stuccoed barrel vault with ornaments, is illuminated by symmetrical windows. The walls display a wainscoting of polychrome tiles, with concentric patterns and vegetal elements, originating from the Fábrica de San Pio V, in Valencia. The high choir, with its wooden balustrade imitating marble, and the baptistery, lined with blue and white tiles, complement the richness of the space. Two confronting pulpits, with worked stone railings, and the various altars, highlighted by gilded and polychrome carving, complete the church's solemn and artistically rich atmosphere.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.7999995,-8.8316398
Coordinates DMS: 39°47'60.0"N 08°49'53.9"W
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