Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Lisboa > Torres Vedras > Póvoa de Penafirme
The Nossa Senhora da Graça Seminary Church is located in the peaceful urbanization of Penafirme, part of the locality of Póvoa de Penafirme, in the municipality of Torres Vedras. Nestled in a serene residential area, its position offers an environment of tranquility, with a view that extends over the surrounding landscape, far from urban agitation. The place invites contemplation, reflecting its historical and current vocation in a natural and calm setting.
The Nossa Senhora da Graça Seminary Church is the result of a long and resilient history. This site has roots dating back to an ancient convent dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Graça, founded in the 9th century, which, due to coastal erosion, had to be moved to a position further away from the beach. The ruins of the "Old Convent", later rebuilt in the 16th century, still bear witness to this initial phase.
The building seen today resulted from a new construction begun in the 16th century and completed in 1790, after the violent earthquake of 1755 devastated the previous structure. The convent, which would later be transformed into a seminary in the 20th century, always maintained its dedication to Nossa Senhora da Graça, marking its continuity as a space for faith and education.
The Nossa Senhora da Graça Seminary Church features architecture characterized by its simplicity and sobriety, reflecting a style distinguished by its "distinct poverty". Influences of 18th-century Baroque and Rococo styles can be observed on the church's facade and the old convent's door. The church is oriented towards the east, an architectural detail of symbolic significance in Christian tradition.
This site offers a perspective on the region's religious and educational legacy, in a building that, despite the trials over the centuries, remains a cultural and spiritual reference point in Penafirme.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.1443696,-9.3538502
Coordinates DMS: 39°08'39.7"N 09°21'13.9"W
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