Lourinhã Main Church or Church of the Old Convent of Saint Anthony of Lourinhã

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Lisboa > Lourinhã > Lourinhã > Lourinhã e Atalaia

Location

The Main Church of Lourinhã, also known as the Church of the Old Convent of Santo António, is located in the town of Lourinhã, municipality of Lourinhã, in the Oeste region of Portugal.

Origin and History

The convent, built in 1601, was inhabited by Franciscan Recollect friars. Originally a small church, the building underwent several expansions over the years. The works were prolonged due to the size of the project and the lack of financial resources.

Patrimonial Importance

Since 1910, the building has been classified as a National Monument, standing out for its historical and architectural relevance.

Cloister

The small cloister consists of two floors with columns of the Tuscan order. On the ground floor, there are tile panels from the early 18th century, depicting children with baskets of flowers. You can still see the originals on one of the walls, with the others covered by replicas made after the restoration.

Church Architecture

The church has a single nave with a barrel vault, where there are 18th-century tiles. The chancel is separated from the nave by a double arch supported by Tuscan pilasters. On the walls of the chapel, there are figurative tiles in blue and white, also from the 18th century, which adorn the altars.

Tomb of D. Brás Henriques

On the left wall, near the altar, there is a Renaissance tomb ordered to be built by D. Brites Brandoa, in honor of her husband D. Brás Henriques, designed by the royal architect Pedro Nunes Tinoco.

Chapel of 1714

At the back of the church, on the right side, is a small chapel ordered to be built in 1714 by Father João Nunes Franco, which served as his tomb. The altar of this chapel is made of Florentine marble, and the walls are decorated with tile panels depicting the miracles of Saint Anthony.

Current Appearance

The facade of the church has undergone several interventions over time, altering its original appearance. However, the interior retains many of its historical and artistic elements.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igreja_do_Convento_de_Santo_António_da_Lourinhã

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