Church of São Mamede de Vila Verde

Category: Religious Architecture > Place of Worship

District: Porto > Felgueiras > Vila Verde e Santão > Serrinha

Location

The Church of São Mamede de Vila Verde is located in the Serrinha area, in the locality of Vila Verde e Santão, belonging to the municipality of Felgueiras. The building is situated halfway up a slope, on an elevation that offers a wide perspective over the surrounding valley. Access to the church is via a granite staircase, which leads to a churchyard of the same material, lending a serene and traditional atmosphere to the place.

A Long History

The roots of the Church of São Mamede de Vila Verde run deep, with its existence documented as early as 1220, when it was under the influence of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Pombeiro. The current structure, however, is the result of a rebuilding that likely occurred in the 14th century, a work attributed to the siblings Martim and Ana Anes, whose tombs can be seen outside the temple. Over the centuries, the church underwent several renovations, such as the addition of the sacristy in the 18th century. However, in the second half of the 19th century, with the construction of a new parish church, the old Church of São Mamede entered a period of abandonment and degradation. Its full restoration, in the 21st century, restored its vitality and importance, and it is currently classified as a Public Interest Monument.

Architectural and Artistic Elements

The Church of São Mamede de Vila Verde exhibits an architecture that reconciles Romanesque construction techniques with elements already announcing the Gothic style. Its plan is longitudinal, with a single nave, and the chancel, of smaller and lower dimensions, stands out. On the exterior, one can appreciate the beauty of the exposed granite masonry, with details such as the plain corbels supporting the cornice and the semicircular arched portals. On each side of the facade, narrow full-arch slits cut through the walls, contributing to the interior lighting.

One of the most interesting points are the two trapezoidal granite sarcophagi, with monolithic gable lids, which flank the main door and are believed to belong to the church's founders. Inside, the chancel preserves traces of 16th-century mural painting, with vegetal and geometric motifs, and where the figures of Saint Benedict and Saint Bernard, as well as the coat of arms of the Melo family, who sponsored these artistic works, can still be distinguished. The presence of these mural paintings confers a remarkable artistic and cultural dimension to the ensemble.

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