Malgas Church

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Lisboa > Sobral de Monte Agraço > Santo Quintino > Malgas

Location

The Church of Malgas is located in the small urbanisation of Malgas, within the locality of Santo Quintino, in the municipality of Sobral de Monte Agraço. Its elevated position in the landscape gives it a remarkable prominence, making it a visible landmark for those travelling through the surrounding area.

A Manueline Legacy

This religious building stands out as a remarkable example of the Manueline style. Its construction, or a significant rebuilding, dates back to the early 16th century, around 1520, by royal initiative. Elements such as the date 1530, present in cartouches on the pilasters of its main portal, and 1532, visible on the pedestal of a statue inside, bear witness to the progression of this 16th-century work. It is suggested that the current structure may originate from an older chapel, from the 13th century, whose remains can still be observed next to the main porch, in a smaller door.

Details of Art and Faith

The grandeur of the Church of Malgas is enhanced by its richly decorated stone main portal, surmounted by the busts of D. João III and D. Catarina. Inside, the church reveals an environment of singular colour and brilliance. Its walls are covered by a vast expanse of tiles from the 17th and 18th centuries, extending up to the capitals of the columns. The gaze is guided by two rows of arches towards the main altar, where even older tiles, of Hispano-Moorish inspiration, are found. The unusual baptistery chapel and the figurative tile panels in the chancel, depicting biblical scenes of the Visitation and the Annunciation, also deserve attention.

A Point of Devotion

From the main altar, two side chapels are accessed. One is dedicated to São Quintino and houses a stone image of the saint, dated 1532, flanked by figures of Santa Luzia and São Sebastião. A popular feature, observed in this chapel, is the presence of a red cap above the altar, associated by local devotion with cures for ailments such as headaches and earaches. This church has the distinction of being classified as a National Monument since 1910, a recognition of its significant historical and architectural value within the Portuguese landscape.