Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Setúbal > Setúbal > Aldeia Rica > São Lourenço e São Simão
The Church of São Lourenço is located in the town of Aldeia Rica, an integral part of the parish of São Lourenço e São Simão, in the municipality of Setúbal. Erected in an urban area, the church stands out in its surroundings, opening onto a paved churchyard where a stone cross can be observed. Despite the presence of traffic-laden streets nearby, the churchyard offers a space of some tranquility, bordering the local cemetery to the north.
This parish temple, built around 1570 upon the foundations of a 14th-century medieval church, exhibits a Mannerist architectural style, characterized by the simplicity of its forms and the rectilinear nature of its facades. Its construction in sober volumes is enhanced by the visual contrast between the plastered and whitewashed masonry and the stonework that frames the windows and quoins, lending it a discreet elegance. The bell tower, with a square plan and covered by a dome, emerges from the south facade, adding a distinctive element to the ensemble.
Inside the Church of São Lourenço, visitors discover a remarkable artistic collection, the result of centuries of history. The single nave is covered by a three-plane wooden ceiling, while the chancel, set back and smaller in size, is crowned by a lowered barrel vault. One of the highlights is the collection of tiles that adorns the space, spanning various eras: the wainscoting in the chancel, in blue and white tones with biblical scenes, is attributed to the workshop of António de Oliveira Bernardes, an 18th-century master tile-maker. There are also João V-era tiles in the nave and Pombaline patterns in the baptistery, as well as 17th-century examples in the tower's dome, forming a chronological and stylistic mosaic. Among other valuable pieces, a 16th-century enameled faience high-relief representing the Virgin and Child, attributed to the Della Robbia Workshop, stands out. The marble high altar is complemented by a national-style carved altarpiece and a canvas depicting the Last Supper, flanked by four canvases illustrating the life of São Lourenço. The sacristy, in turn, features a paneled ceiling painted with emblems alluding to the martyrdom of the patron saint, and the 16th-century baptismal font is crafted from Arrábida breccia, a material also present in the pulpit.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.518902,-9.0146148
Coordinates DMS: 38°31'8.0"N 09°00'52.6"W
Weather Aldeia Rica
On-duty Pharmacy Aldeia Rica
