Parish Church of Vilela

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Viana do Castelo > Arcos de Valdevez > Vilela > Choças

Location

The Parish Church of Vilela stands in a semi-urban area of the parish of Vilela, in the municipality of Arcos de Valdevez, more precisely in the Choças area. The building is situated on a slightly sloping plot, opening onto a wide square paved with granite cubes, giving it a serene and traditional setting.

Its position offers a vantage point over the surroundings, marked by the presence of traditional houses and cultivated fields, recalling the typical landscape of Minho.

From Antiquity to the 19th Century

The history of the Parish Church of Vilela dates back to an ancient double monastery, founded in the year 980. Over the centuries, the site was home to the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, a religious order that established its presence here from 1069. This monastery played a significant role in the life of the region, maintaining its religious function until the dissolution of the orders in 1834.

It was in the 19th century that the building underwent a profound remodelling, transforming into the parish church we know today, adapting to the needs of the local community. These interventions, continued with subsequent restorations, such as that of 1999, allowed its importance and beauty to be preserved.

Architecture and Artistic Details

The Parish Church of Vilela features religious architecture that reflects the transformations mostly occurred in the 19th century. The main facade, of harmonious style, is crowned by a triangular pediment and flanked by two bell towers, which rise with their perfect arch windows and pyramidal finials.

Inside, the atmosphere is one of luminous simplicity, with plastered walls painted white and ceilings in false barrel vaults, divided into coffered panels. Of note is the presence of a 16th-century baptismal font, a testament to the site's long history. The triumphal arch separating the nave from the chancel, resting on pilasters, is topped by a valance decorated with the arms of the Augustinian Order, in white, blue, and gold painted carving. The side altarpieces and the main altar, with classical influences and painted carving, add beauty and detail to the ensemble, with some altar tables featuring reused Baroque paneling.

The Old Convent and Its Reuse

Adjacent to the church is the conventual area, a complex of three two-story wings organized around a rectangular courtyard. Although it has undergone alterations over time, this part of the complex retains traces of its original structure, such as the balcony with five perfect arches and a notable grand staircase inside a projecting body.

Currently, this conventual area is adapted for various cultural activities, demonstrating the ability of a historical space to reinvent itself and continue to serve the community, beyond its primary religious function.

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