Parish Church of Alvaredo

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Viana do Castelo > Melgaço > Alvaredo > Charneca

Location

The Parish Church of Alvaredo is located in the parish of Alvaredo, in the municipality of Melgaço, district of Viana do Castelo. More precisely, it is situated in the locality of Charneca, nestled in the heart of a village with a characteristically rural environment and scattered settlements. It is set within a welcoming churchyard, paved with granite cobblestones, next to the road and flanked by walls. Its surroundings are marked by the presence of houses and vineyards, which contribute to the typical landscape of the region.

A Centuries-Old Legacy

Dedicated to Saint Martin, the Parish Church of Alvaredo is recognized as one of the oldest in the surrounding area, with the first known documentary reference dating back to 1118. Over the centuries, its fate has been intertwined with the administrative changes of the region, having been part of different territories and municipalities before being definitively established in Melgaço after the dissolution of the municipality of Valadares in 1855. This long history gives it a symbolic value of continuity and resilience over time.

Architecture and Symbolism

The building has a rural character, revealing interventions over the centuries that have shaped its current form. Although the original temple may have had a Latin cross plan, what is observed today is a structure with a rectangular plan, consisting of a single nave and a chancel. The main façade, built with exposed stonework, is notable for a portal with a straight lintel and an upper window with a curved lintel, where the symbol of the scallop shell, associated with the pilgrims of Santiago de Compostela, can be identified. On the right side stands a bell tower, topped by a spire and pinnacles, featuring a clock and a rooster-shaped weathervane.

Inside, the wooden altarpiece, dated 1822 and created by the master woodcarver João Bento Barbosa de Brito, is a prominent feature. The exterior walls also hold a commemorative plaque of its reconstruction, completed in 1943, a testament to its ability to rise again after a collapse that occurred in 1939.

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