Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Lisboa > Odivelas > Póvoa de Santo Adrião > Bairro da Cassapia
The Main Church of Póvoa de Santo Adrião is located in the heart of the locality's old urban core, in the parish of Póvoa de Santo Adrião e Olival Basto, in Odivelas. Although surrounded by more recent buildings, this church maintains its historical presence and is visible in Bairro da Cassapia, with a small garden in front that invites observation of its facade.
This remarkable temple has its roots in the 16th century, with indications pointing to the year 1546, a date visible on a fragment of tombstone that remains on the baptistery floor. Its construction is due to the autonomization of the village in relation to the parish of Loures, justifying the erection of its own church. The Main Church of Póvoa de Santo Adrião is recognized for its patrimonial value, being classified as a National Monument, a status attributed in 1970, while its Manueline portal had already received this distinction in 1922. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the building underwent several interventions, which shaped its current appearance and enriched its artistic collection.
The church's exterior stands out for its Manueline aesthetic, evident in elements such as the imposing front portal. This portal, with a ogee arch, features detailed decoration with quatrefoil and circular rosettes, revealing the art of the 16th century. Laterally, a door displays the date 1560, while on one of the corners, a curious sundial, dated 1742, can be observed. The church's structure has a longitudinal plan, with a single nave and a rectangular chancel, complemented by a bell tower that rises on the left side of the main facade.
Inside the Main Church of Póvoa de Santo Adrião, the artistic richness contrasts with the exterior simplicity. The nave is lined with checkerboard tiles in green and white tones, dating from the 17th century, which adorn the walls in three registers. The coffered ceiling is adorned with paintings, and the choir loft is supported by two red marble columns. In the baptistery, the old faceted basin baptismal font, with an inscription from 1546, is an element of great interest. Particular emphasis goes to the Chapel of Saint Anthony, entirely lined with 17th-century polychrome 'carpet' tiles, and housing a gilded wood carving altarpiece with paintings on wood, depicting the Annunciation and the Ascension. The grand chancel impresses with its illumination and pictorial decoration, where the monumental canvas by Pedro Alexandrino, "The Last Supper", from 1802, stands out, flanked by other works by the same author representing the Four Doctors of the Church.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.8003142,-9.1597779
Coordinates DMS: 38°48'1.1"N 09°09'35.2"W
Weather Póvoa de Santo Adrião
On-duty Pharmacy Póvoa de Santo Adrião
