Parish Church of Galveias

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Portalegre > Ponte de Sor > Galveias

Location

Located in the town of Galveias, in the municipality of Ponte de Sor, the Matriz Church is situated at a point that offers a view of its surroundings. One can appreciate a view of the town's urban area and also of the surrounding landscape. This area is characterized by cork oak forests (montado de sobro), providing a serene environment typical of the Alentejo region.

Origin and Dedication

The Matriz Church of Galveias dates back to the 16th century. Over the years, it has undergone several interventions and modifications that altered its original design. The temple is dedicated to Saint Lawrence (São Lourenço), who is the patron saint of the parish. Historically, the church was linked to an important institution, belonging to the priory of the Order of Avis.

Architecture

The church's main façade features a central body with a cut-out pediment, flanked by two urns at its upper extremities. Flanking this central body, two square-plan towers rise, notable for their asymmetrical domes. Inside, the church consists of a single nave, with a barrel-vaulted ceiling.

Interior Heritage

Within the church's interior, several artistic and historical elements stand out. In the chancel, there is an altarpiece executed in the Baroque-Joanine style, dating from the first half of the 18th century, although it has undergone later renovations and repainting. Among the furniture, two wooden benches also in the Joanine style and from the same period (first half of the 18th century) are prominent. One of the most valuable collections is the vast and rich collection of paraments, which includes pieces from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Particularly noteworthy are a 16th-century polychrome silk bedspread, adorned with heraldic motifs and orientalizing influences, and a late-Renaissance asperges cope, made of damask and velvet, with vegetal patterns and the cross of the Order of Avis embroidered on the hood.

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