Parish Center of Vale de Santarém

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Santarém > Santarém > Vale de Santarém

Location:

The Parish Centre of Vale de Santarém, where its church stands out, is in a unique position in the locality, set halfway up the slope at the southern entrance of the village. Situated in a small square paved with cobblestones, the place invites a moment of tranquility.

Access to the churchyard is via a wide staircase, at the top of which stands a stone cross, dated 1905, symbolically marking the space and offering a vantage point for contemplating the surrounding environment of the village.

History and Memory:

The history of the Parish Centre is intrinsically linked to its Church of Our Lady of Expectation, a temple whose foundation probably dates back to the 16th century. The date 1595, inscribed on the main portal, suggests the completion of an important phase of its construction or reconstruction over an earlier chapel.

In the 19th century, the building underwent significant expansion works, coinciding with the parish's autonomy. These interventions transformed the main facade and resulted in the creation of the main altarpiece, giving the church its current configuration, which is a testament to the architectural and religious evolution of the community over the centuries.

Architectural Details:

The church features a rectangular plan that harmoniously integrates the nave, the chancel, a side annex, and the bell tower. The main facade, with its redesigned profile from the 19th century, still preserves a 16th-century portal with an epigraphic cartouche and pinnacles, elements that attest to its antiquity.

Inside, the nave is covered by a coffered wooden ceiling, with painted panels, while the chancel features a false barrel vault ornamented with decorative stuccoes and a central medallion representing the Blessed Sacrament. Of note are the 16th-century side chapels, with carved stonework, one of which, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, reveals interesting grotesques (brutesco) decoration, characteristic of the late 16th century. Traces of Hispano-Moresque tilework, found on site, add an extra layer of historical and cultural interest.

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