Church of Our Lady of the Assumption

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Lisboa > Sintra > Penedo > Selão

Location

The Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção is located in Penedo, a small village integrated into the historic parish of Colares, in the municipality of Sintra. It is situated in the Selão area, standing out in the urban environment due to a churchyard that partially isolates it, giving it a remarkable presence in the landscape. This area is part of the Special Protection Zone of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra.

From Foundation to Mannerist Reform

The history of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção dates back to the second half of the 16th century, when it was erected to replace an earlier temple dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia. From that initial period, valuable vestiges persist in the church, such as some Mudejar tiles and a beautifully crafted Manueline holy water font. In the mid-16th century, the building underwent a significant reform, extending until 1566, a period marked by two relief medallions in the upper part of the chancel, representing the busts of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

A new campaign of works took place in the first half of the 17th century, with the aim of adapting the church to the precepts of the Counter-Reformation. During this phase, the church, which already had a single nave covered by an imposing vault, gained eight side chapels and two collateral chapels. The triumphal arch was also built, surmounted by an aedicule with the image of Christ the Redeemer, attributed to the architect Pedro Nunes Tinoco. The nave walls were covered with patterned tiles, in shades of yellow and blue, contributing to the aesthetics of the space.

Artistic Details and the Baroque Period

The 18th century brought new interventions that enriched the church's interior. The chancel walls were adorned with magnificent figurative tile panels, authored by António Pereira Rovasco (and Manuel dos Santos for the Marian scenes), depicting passages such as the Flight into Egypt and the Rest on the Flight into Egypt, organized into three levels. During this period, the grand gilded altarpiece, in the "national style," was also built, designed by the architect João Antunes, notable for its Solomonic columns and, in some descriptions, for its base with Florentine mosaics.

Despite being partially damaged by the 1755 earthquake, the church was promptly subjected to reconstruction work, mainly on the roof and facade. The body of the temple is articulated by robust buttresses in simple Tuscan pilasters, while the bell tower, located on the right, clad in stone and featuring a dome and pinnacles, still houses bells dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Inside, a baptismal font from 1604 and a square-based stone pulpit are other elements of interest that complement the artistic and historical richness of this notable monument.

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