Church of Saint James

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Portalegre > Marvão > Marvão > Santa Maria de Marvão

Location

The Church of Santiago is located in the heart of the village of Marvão, nestled within its historic walls, in the Santa Maria area. Its position, in the southwestern part of the village, uniquely adapts to the sloping terrain. A small churchyard, delimited by a masonry wall, establishes a smooth transition between the temple and the surrounding buildings. In front of the church, an imposing granite outcrop abuts the ancient wall, creating a picturesque and narrow access, paved with granite cobblestones.

Origin and Historical Evolution

The foundations of the Church of Santiago date back to the 14th century, when it was established as a parish church. Its initial management was linked to the Order of the Hospital, which would later transform into the Priory of the Order of Malta. From this medieval period, the church preserves structural elements that attest to its antiquity, such as the nave arches and the main pointed arch portal, inserted into a gable. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the building underwent interventions that added new decorative elements, testifying to its continuous importance and adaptation through the ages.

Architectural and Artistic Details

The interior of the Church of Santiago is composed of three naves, separated by pointed arch arcades rising above faceted pillars, all made of granite ashlar. The naves are topped with wooden ceilings, with the central nave featuring a "masseira" (trough-shaped) roof and the side naves with "aba" (lean-to) roofs. Observing the side chapels, on the Gospel side, there is a prominent baptistery with a ribbed vault that rests on colonnettes, and a carved altarpiece. On the Epistle side, a deeper chapel is adorned with 17th-century patterned tiles, framing an Estremoz marble altarpiece. The chancel is covered by a false barrel vault, enriched with paintings and a masonry altarpiece.

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