Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Santarém > Santarém > Vale de Santarém > Zona do Ó
Located in the picturesque Ó area, in Vale de Santarém, this church stands isolated on a hillside, offering a unique perspective of its surroundings. Its churchyard, paved with traditional cobblestones, provides an atmosphere of tranquility and invites contemplation. At the top of the wide staircase leading to the temple, a prominent stone cross, dated 1905, marks the entrance to this sacred and urban space.
The Church of Our Lady of the Expectation of Ó is a living testament to centuries of history, with its initial construction likely dating back to the 16th century. A cartouche on the main portal displays the date 1595, suggesting the completion of significant works during that period. Inside, traces of Hispano-Moorish tiles were discovered beneath the chancel floor, indicating an even older foundation on the same site.
Over the centuries, the church has witnessed the transformations of the community. Initially dependent on the parish of Marvila, in Santarém, it gained parochial autonomy in the 19th century, a milestone that spurred significant expansion and remodeling works, especially on the main facade and the high altar, giving it its current appearance.
With a rectangular plan, the building displays a harmony of articulated volumes, including the nave, the chancel, and a bell tower, the latter built in the 20th century and crowned by a characteristic blue pyramidal spire. The main facade, facing west, stands out with its straight lintel portal, which retains 16th-century elements, such as the pinnacles and the aforementioned inscribed cartouche.
Inside, the nave is covered by a wooden masseira ceiling, decorated with painted panels. The chancel, in turn, features a false barrel vault adorned with stuccoes depicting the Holy Sacrament in glory. The presence of 16th-century side chapels, adorned with carved stonework, deserves particular attention: in one of them, on the Gospel side, a peculiar grotesque decoration is observed, dating back to the late 16th century, while in the other, on the Epistle side, sculpted busts are highlighted.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.1909312,-8.7402656
Coordinates DMS: 39°11'27.4"N 08°44'25.0"W
Weather Vale de Santarém
On-duty Pharmacy Vale de Santarém
