Moitas Venda Main Church / Church of Our Lady of Fatima

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Santarém > Alcanena > Moitas Venda > Casais Robustos

Location

The church stands in the Casais Robustos area, west of the village of Moitas Venda, in the municipality of Alcanena. Surrounded by rural roads and agricultural fields, it serves as a landmark for those travelling along the limestone slopes that characterize the region.

Nearby, the rolling landscape of the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros stands out, giving the site a tranquil and luminous setting, where the contrast between the white façades and the soft green of the vegetation catches the eye of passers-by.

A Legacy Through Time

The main body of the church, as seen today, dates from the 1940s, bearing witness to a remarkable post-war community effort to rebuild and create new places of worship. It was during this period that the main nave was built, with the bell tower set slightly back from the main façade.

Almost attached to the side of this more recent structure is a preserved earlier chapel, whose origin is presumed to date back to the 18th century. This older space houses a polychrome stone image of Our Lady of the Conception, notable for its state of preservation and the expressiveness of its details.

Architectural Features and Atmosphere

Externally, the white walls of the church rest on natural stone cornerstones, giving it a robust foundation. The doors and windows, mostly rectangular or topped with a semicircular arch, feature frames painted in a terracotta hue, which enhances the chromatic contrast with the white masonry. The gable roof, covered with ceramic tiles, culminates in the small tower with a dark-hued covering, leaning towards black or dark grey.

Inside, the space is marked by simple and luminous lines, devoid of excessive ornamentation, which allows the focus to be on the older chapel and the devotion manifested within it. The architectural sobriety of the ensemble creates an atmosphere of serene introspection, inviting moments of quietness and reflection.

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