Church of São Gonçalo and cloister

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Porto > Amarante > Amarante > Campo da Feira

Location

Located in the Union of Parishes of Amarante (São Gonçalo), Madalena, Cepelos and Gatão, in the city of Amarante, in the district of Porto.

Classification

The Church and Cloister of the former Convent of São Gonçalo have been a National Monument since 1910.

History

It is believed that the church has roots in an old hermitage built by Blessed Gonçalo of Amarante in the early 13th century. In 1540, King John III of Portugal and Queen D. Catarina decided to erect a new Dominican temple and convent, whose works began in 1543 and extended until the 18th century.

Architecture

The Church is a remarkable example of various architectural styles, including Renaissance, Mannerist, Baroque, and 19th-century.

Facade Highlights

The Balcony of the Kings features figures of important Portuguese monarchs, such as João III, Sebastião, and Filipe II of Spain. The Portico is decorated with representations of saints and the Virgin Mary.

Interior

Inside, highlights include a magnificent pipe organ, the tomb of Blessed Gonçalo, a sacristy with an ornate ceiling, and an image of the Blessed, which, according to tradition, is used to make requests.

Pipe Organ

This organ, built in 1766, is an impressive piece, with rich decoration and 43 registers. It was restored between 2008 and 2010 and is used in religious ceremonies and sacred music concerts.

Municipal Museum

Since the 1980s, the convent has housed the Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso Municipal Museum, which presents exhibitions of local art and culture.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igreja_e_Convento_de_São_Gonçalo

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