Parish Church of Vila Verde / Church of São Mamede / Old Church

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Porto > Felgueiras > Vila Verde > Serrinha

Location

Located in the Serrinha area, in Vila Verde, municipality of Felgueiras, this church stands on a hillside, in a slightly elevated position relative to the public road. Access is via a granite staircase, which leads to a churchyard, also in granite, located in front of the main façade. Its isolated placement, although close to single-family homes, gives it an atmosphere of tranquility within the local urban landscape.

A Long History

The construction of this church, also known as Igreja de São Mamede or Old Church, dates back to the 13th century. Initially, it played a central role in parish life. However, after the construction of a new temple in the 19th century, the building was abandoned and remained in ruins for almost a century. Thanks to recent conservation and enhancement projects, the church has been restored and has regained its function as a place of worship, allowing its long and resilient history to be appreciated.

Architectural Features

This example of late Romanesque architecture features a longitudinal plan, consisting of a single nave and a chancel of more modest dimensions and lower height. The main façade, facing west, is notable for its protruding cornice and a gabled bell tower. Light enters through narrow slits, both on the side façades and above the triumphal arch. The side façades display a continuous cornice with modillions, some with simple ornamentation, revealing the attention to detail of the era.

Art and Memory Inside

Upon entering, visitors observe the contrast between the granite slab flooring and the wooden floor in the nave and sacristy. The chancel, positioned at a higher level, holds one of the church's great surprises: traces of fresco paintings. These wall fragments, once more extensive, display decorative compositions with vegetal motifs and a coat of arms, as well as figures identified as Saint Benedict, Saint Bernard, and, likely, the patron saint Saint Mamede. In the nave, the walls feature a decorative pattern of quatrefoils in red and ochre colors.

Outside, flanking the main door, are two trapezoidal granite sarcophagi. These tombs are associated with Martim Anes and his sister Maria Anes, crucial figures in the church's early history, known for their donations to the Pombeiro Monastery in the early 14th century, which underscores the antiquity and importance of the site.

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