Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazare

Category: Religious Architecture > Sanctuary

District: Leiria > Nazaré > Nazaré > Sítio da Nazaré

Location

Located in Sítio da Nazaré, an emblematic neighborhood of the town of Nazaré, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré rises on a higher plane, dominating the surrounding landscape. Its wide façade, framed by two lateral buildings, is preceded by a spacious forecourt that offers an unobstructed and tranquil perspective.

A semicircular staircase leads visitors to the interior of the Sanctuary, highlighting its prominent position and the grandeur of the architectural ensemble that harmoniously integrates into the higher elevation of the locality.

History and Legend

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré is a place with a deep connection to history and popular beliefs, guarding within it a revered Black Madonna, a wooden sculpted image. Legend narrates that this figure was brought from Mérida in the year 711 by Friar Romano, a monk who, accompanied by the last Visigothic king, D. Rodrigo, was fleeing the Muslim invasion.

The image was initially venerated in a small grotto near the cliff, where the monk lived as a hermit. Later, the Chapel of Memory was built over this grotto, on the edge of the cliff, by initiative of D. Fuas Roupinho. It is said that this chapel was built in gratitude for a miracle that saved him from a precipitous fall, when his horse suddenly halted before the abyss.

The current Sanctuary, which began to be built in the 14th century by King Ferdinand I and underwent several interventions until the 19th century, is the third place where the sacred image is venerated. This space, classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1978, reflects centuries of devotion and architectural transformations.

Architecture and Sacred Art

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré presents a grand architecture, resulting from extensive works carried out between the 17th and 19th centuries. Inside, the single-nave church, with its paneled wooden ceiling, stands out for its Latin cross shape. Four gilded woodwork altars, dated 1756, and two pulpits from the same period, can be observed, enriching the central space.

One of the most notable elements are the extensive panels of Dutch tiles from the early 18th century that cover the transept walls. With a total of 6,568 tiles, these panels illustrate biblical scenes from the lives of David, Joseph, and Jonah, representing one of the most significant collections of Dutch ceramics in Portugal.

The chancel, separated from the body of the church by a balustrade of rosewood and marble, houses an imposing Baroque altarpiece of gilded woodwork, where the sacred image of Our Lady of Nazaré is venerated behind and above the main altar. In the sacristy and surrounding corridors, it is possible to admire Portuguese tiles from the early 18th century, many authored by António de Oliveira Bernardes, with panels depicting the Assumption of the Virgin and prophets. The sacristy also contains chests with canvases alluding to the Legend of Nazaré and a set of six large canvases about the Passion of Christ. An iron staircase, leading from the sacristy, allows pilgrims to approach the venerated image in the chancel.

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