Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Lisboa > Lourinhã > Lourinhã > Lourinhã e Atalaia
It is located in the parish of Lourinhã and Atalaia, approximately 63 km from Lisbon and 2.9 km from the coast.
The current building was built at the end of the 14th century in the Gothic style. The church was classified as a National Monument on June 29, 1922. Originally, D. Jordão, a French knight, built a castle and a first church in the village in 1160, but that structure no longer exists.
The current church is attributed to D. Lourenço Vicente, Archbishop of Braga, who received the village in 1384. Construction may have occurred between 1384 and 1397. In 1670, significant changes were made, including the walling up of the facades and the construction of a new bell tower.
Between 1931 and 1935, the church underwent a restoration that returned the Gothic facades and restored the rose window and portals.
The church is a classic example of Portuguese parish temples from the 13th and 14th centuries. It features a three-nave plan, with the central one being taller. The pointed arches support columns with sculpted capitals. The chancel is polygonal, with large windows and a vault of pointed arches.
The main facade has a richly decorated portal with characters from the Old and New Testaments. Noteworthy are the vegetal capitals on the columns of the naves, each with a unique and naturalistic design.
Considered an example of excellence in the Portuguese Gothic style, the church reflects the art and architecture of the time, making it a place of historical and cultural interest for visitors.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igreja_de_Santa_Maria_do_Castelo_(Lourinhã)
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.243144722526964,-9.31569053641589
Coordinates DMS: 39°14'35.3"N 09°18'56.5"W
