Parish Church of the Divine Holy Spirit of Malhou

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Santarém > Alcanena > Malhou > Malhou, Louriceira e Espinheiro

Location

Located in the tranquil village of Malhou, in the municipality of Alcanena, the Parish Church of the Divine Holy Spirit stands as a central point in the village's landscape. Its presence is discreet and harmonious, integrated into the surrounding urban fabric, in an area that invites calm and observation. In front of the temple, one can admire a stone cross dating from the 18th century, which complements the view of the church and frames its main façade.

Architecture and Exteriors

This church, although originating in the 17th century, today presents the result of various interventions that shaped its current physiognomy. Its façade, with a pointed gable, reveals baroque features evident in the ornamentation of the portal and its pediment. An oculus, positioned above the portal, allows natural light into the choir loft. In the lower part, a frieze of tiles, with a mix of varied patterns, displays vestiges of a figurative panel with the face of a friar.

The bell tower, one of the most distinctive elements, stands out for its rounded corners, marked by curved pilasters that culminate in decorative elements resembling flames, topped by a dome. On the right side façade, an inscription is visible recording "This church / was made in / the year of: / 1634". This date, it is believed, marks an important remodeling or reconstruction of the temple, which would have existed previously.

Interior and Sacred Art

Upon entering the church, the visitor encounters a single-nave space, which leads to the main altar and the collateral and side altars. One of the most notable aspects of the interior is the nave ceiling, composed of fifty painted coffers with vibrant floral motifs in shades of red, blue, green, brown, and yellow, creating a visually rich atmosphere. The nave walls feature a wainscot of 17th-century tiles, in blue and yellow patterns, which lends authenticity and historical depth to the ambiance.

The main altar's altarpiece, in imposing gilded carved wood, is a significant example of baroque art, with Solomonic columns framing niches. Within it, a 15th-century stone image of the Holy Trinity stands out, which, despite later being painted and upholstered, maintains its integrity and artistic value. In the chancel there is also the tombstone of Sebastião Duarte de Alviela, knight-fidalgo of the Royal House, and his son José Duarte, dated 1664. The side and collateral altars house various images of saints, enriching the church's iconographic heritage. The holy water fonts, along the nave, also deserve attention for their singular details, such as one displaying a relief in the shape of a viola.

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