Saint Mark's Church

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Santarém > Chamusca > Arripiado > Carregueira

Location

The Church of São Marcos stands in Carregueira, an area belonging to the locality of Arripiado, in the municipality of Chamusca. Located halfway up a slope, its main facade stands out due to its elevated position, reached by a stairway that runs along the front of the building. This location in the center of the village gives it a visible presence.

The Fascinating Facade: Origin and Journey

One of the most notable aspects of the Church of São Marcos is, without a doubt, its facade. Although the current building was constructed in the 1960s, the impressive stonework that composes it comes from a much older site: the demolished Church of Santa Apolónia, in Lisbon. This valuable collection of stones was donated by the Patriarchate of Lisbon to the commission that promoted the construction of the church in Arripiado.

The journey of these stones was a logistical feat for its time. The stonework, previously dismantled and meticulously numbered to be reinstalled later, was transported in several stages. First, from Lisbon to Tancos, they traveled by train. From Tancos, they continued by boat to the Arripiado pier and, finally, from the pier to the construction site, they were carried by ox carts. This unusual journey underlines the value and commitment dedicated to this temple.

Architecture and Contrast

The Church of São Marcos presents itself as a parish temple of religious architecture. Its structure, erected in the mid-20th century, peculiarly integrates the richness of a visibly older Baroque style facade. Flanked by two bell towers, its stonework front gives it a visual robustness. This union between a more recent construction and historical elements of great artistic value creates a contrast that makes it a unique point of interest, where the past merges with the present.

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