Church of Our Lady of the Snows

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Santarém > Torres Novas > Torres Novas > Parceiros de São João

Location

The Church of Our Lady of the Snows is located in the village of Parceiros de São João, an integral part of the municipality of Torres Novas. It is situated in a spacious churchyard, pebble-paved and beautified by trees, which serves as a natural meeting point where various village streets converge. Next to the church, a municipal road connecting Parceiros da Igreja to Resgais can be observed. In the churchyard, a stone cross dating from 1735 displays reliefs alluding to the Instruments of the Passion, adding an element of historical interest to the surrounding environment.

Architecture and Heritage

Likely dating from the 17th century, the church reveals characteristics of Mannerist and Rococo architecture, evidencing a stylistic evolution over time. Its main façade, facing west, is distinguished by the prismatic bell tower that flanks it, with pinnacles crowning the corners and a pyramidal spire. The axial portal, ornamented with volutes and an elaborate pediment, features a crowned inscription: "Nossa Senhora das Neves Veni Coronaberis". Laterally, two small 17th-century tile panels depict Saint Sebastian and Saint Martha, inviting closer observation of the artistic details of its design.

Interior and Environment

Inside, the church's single nave features a wooden ceiling divided into three longitudinal planes, creating a welcoming and unique atmosphere. The high choir, supported by Tuscan columns, precedes the chancel. The nave's side elevations and the chancel walls are partially covered with 17th-century pattern tiles, some with mixed compositions, which adorn the space and reflect the decorative art of the era. On the Epistle side wall, a tile panel with a grotesque frame illustrates the patroness. The wooden pulpit, with the date 1654 visible on its door lintel, is a prominent feature that underscores the antiquity of the temple.

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