Parish Church of Santa Maria do Barreiro

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Setúbal > Barreiro > Alto do Seixalinho, Santo André e Verderena > Quinta da Amoreira

Location

The Parish Church of Santa Maria do Barreiro is located in the Quinta da Amoreira area, integrated within the locality of Alto do Seixalinho, Santo André e Verderena, in the municipality of Barreiro. Its construction, in the mid-20th century, responded to the city's urban growth to the south and east, positioning it in an area that was expanding and needed a new landmark and place of worship for the resident community.

A Visionary Architecture

This temple stands out as a work by the Barreiro-born architect Joaquim Cabeça Padrão, fitting into the movement of the Renovation of Religious Art. This artistic current proposed a bolder and more contemporary approach to the design of religious spaces, using materials then considered common, such as concrete, to bestow upon them unexpected dignity and nobility. The church impresses with its remarkable scale, capable of seating approximately one thousand people, and its aesthetic marked by sobriety and ornamental simplicity.

The Interior and Its Elements

The building develops over three floors, with the main nave on the ground floor. Upon entering, visitors pass through a sculpted portico that precedes the church's main body, which is 16 meters high. Inside, the spatial arrangement includes a narthex, a wide main nave, and a transept. At the intersection of these spaces is the high altar, which functions as the central point of the composition. The back wall, with its dressed and geometrized stonework, is highlighted by subtle, grazing illumination from side windows, creating an interesting visual effect.

Details of Interest

On the left side of the narthex, one can observe the baptistery, which houses a black marble baptismal font. Its placement on a lower level suggests a connection to ancient Roman baptismal pools, lending a touch of tradition to a modern work. On the opposite side, there is a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Fátima. The temple's design reflects a quest to update the religious space experience, maintaining a clear and functional essence in its various environments, which also include a sacristy, a side chapel, and a funerary chapel.

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