Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Viana do Castelo > Caminha > Arga de Baixo > Arga (Baixo, Cima e São João)
The Parish Church of Arga de Baixo is located in the peaceful village of Arga de Baixo, which is part of the Union of Parishes of Arga (Baixo, Cima e São João), in the municipality of Caminha. Its location is set within a predominantly rural and mountainous environment, characteristic of the Alto Minho region, providing an atmosphere of serenity and close contact with the natural landscape of the area.
The construction of the Parish Church of Arga de Baixo dates back to a period between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. A detail that stands out is the presence of an inscription, visible both on the exterior and interior of the temple, marking the year 1681. This fact may indicate a significant moment of its construction or an important intervention. It is known that a vicar of the time, Mateus Rodrigues de Azevedo, played a role in its realization.
The building features a floor plan configuration composed of two main rectangular volumes: the church body and the chancel. The connection between these two spaces is made by a perfect round arch (triumphal arch), supported by uprights, giving the ensemble a balanced proportion and harmonious aesthetics.
On the exterior, the church has whitewashed masonry walls, and the cornices that cap them display a convex shape. The main entrance door is arched, while the side door, located on the south side, has a lintelled configuration. Above the main entrance, a simple window illuminates the interior. On the front facade, on the north side, a belfry rises, housing the bell tower.
The gable roof is adorned with simple crosses on its ridges, and the vertices are topped with small pyramids with spheres, lending a decorative peculiarity to the temple's ensemble.
The interior of the Parish Church of Arga de Baixo houses a Neoclassical main altarpiece in the chancel, dating from the late 19th century. In addition to this, the temple has four altars, some of which were already referenced in the mid-18th century. Among the various representations present, significant images such as Saint Anthony the Great, recognized as the patron saint of the parish, and Saint Sebastian can be found. On the altar-mor's predella, figures of the Child Jesus and Saint Anthony the Great can also be observed.
In the side altars, there are other compositions. On the south-side altar, for example, there is the image of Saint Anthony of Padua and Our Lady of Sorrows. On the north-side altar, Our Lady of the Rosary occupies a central position, flanked by two small, but remarkably perfect, images of Our Lady.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.8448322,-8.714247
Coordinates DMS: 41°50'41.4"N 08°42'51.3"W
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