Church of Saint Augustine or Church of Grace or Church of the Old Convent of Grace or Church of Santa Maria da Graça, comprising the tombs of the founders and of Pedro Álvares Cabral.

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Santarém > Santarém > Santarém > Marvila

Location

It is located in Largo Pedro Álvares Cabral, in the heart of Santarém's historic center. This square is also known as Largo da Graça.

Historical Significance

It is one of the city's most emblematic monuments, representing an important example of the Gothic style in Portugal. The church was classified as a National Monument in 1910.

Construction

, It was started in 1380 by the Augustinians of Lisbon, but the work extended into the 15th century due to financial and historical difficulties of the founding family.

, It received contributions from noble figures, such as the first Counts of Ourém.

Architectural Style

, It features elements of mendicant Gothic, characteristic of the Dominican and Franciscan convents in the region, and Flamboyant Gothic, with similarities to the Monastery of Batalha.

, The main facade stands out for its large decorated portal and the rose window carved from a single stone.

Interior

, It is composed of three wide naves and a tripartite chancel with decorated vaults.

, It includes a remarkable collection of tombs and tombstones, reflecting the funerary tradition of the space.

Tomb of Pedro Álvares Cabral

The discoverer of Brazil is buried in a simple, flat tomb in the right apse, with a slab engraved in Gothic characters.

Other Notable Tombs

, Tomb of D. Pedro de Menezes, Governor of Ceuta, and his wife D. Beatriz Coutinho, in the Chapel of São João Evangelista.

, Tombs of other members of the nobility linked to the history of the convent.

Transformations Over the Centuries

, It underwent artistic and architectural changes in the 16th and 17th centuries, including the construction of chapels and the decoration of altars with paintings and ceramic panels.

, A restoration in the 20th century removed elements later than 1500 to recover the original style.

Cloister and Convent

, The cloister, dated 1597, was designed by António Dias.

, The convent wings were renovated in the 17th and 18th centuries.

, After the extinction of religious orders in 1834, the space was adapted for other uses.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igreja_da_Graça_(Santarém)

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