Church of Saint Mary of Campanhã

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Porto > Porto > Campanhã > Bela

Location:

The Church of Santa Maria de Campanhã stands in the parish of Campanhã, in the city of Porto. More specifically, it is located on Rua do Falcão, in an area locally known as the Bela urbanization. Its position, near Praça da Corujeira and Estrada da Circunvalação, integrates it into the urban fabric of the eastern part of the city.

History and Resilience:

Erected in 1714, the Church of Santa Maria de Campanhã was originally conceived as the parish temple serving the construction of Palácio do Freixo. Throughout its existence, the building faced moments of great vulnerability, having been plundered and almost destroyed on several occasions, notably in 1809, 1832, and 1834, which led to a period of abandonment. However, the church demonstrated resilience, undergoing substantial restoration and expansion works in the 19th and 20th centuries, with a particularly important renovation in 1905 that contributed to its recovery and preservation.

Architecture and Tiles:

The church features a structure in granite ashlar and is composed of a single nave. Outside, the bell tower stands out, located on the right side of the temple. Both the main façade and the right side of the tower are covered with blue-toned monochromatic tiles, a distinctive element that gives it a particular appearance. The façade design is attributed to José Francisco de Paiva.

Artistic Heritage:

Inside the church, there is a valuable collection of sacred art elements. Among them, a remarkable sculpture of Our Lady of Campanhã stands out, a polychrome limestone piece attributed to the 14th century. The collection also includes images of Our Lady of the Rosary, sculpted in Ançã stone and polychrome, with characteristics of the 14th/15th centuries, and Our Lady of Sorrows, associated with the 17th century. The church preserves other images of artistic and cultural value, predominantly from the 19th and 20th centuries. Also of remarkable artistic quality is the giltwood carving of the tribune and the high altar, an 18th-century work that, despite several restoration interventions, maintains its impressiveness. A set of painted panels, representing scenes of religious life, completes this diverse heritage.

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