Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Viana do Castelo > Paredes de Coura > Coura > Cachadas
Situated in a tranquil rural setting, in the Cachadas area, the Parish Church of Coura, also known as the Church of São Martinho, stands in the locality of Coura, within the municipality of Paredes de Coura. The temple is isolated, surrounded by a spacious churchyard walled in stonework, a space that invites serenity and contemplation of the natural surroundings. In this calm setting, it is possible to observe a sepulchral slab paying homage to a local sergeant, adding a human and historical touch to the site.
The Church of São Martinho de Coura is a testament to the long religious history of the region, with its origins dating back at least to the 13th century. Over the centuries, the church witnessed various changes in its ecclesiastical jurisdiction, reflecting the historical dynamics of the Minho. Although its initial construction is ancient, the building admired today reveals strong influences of the Mannerist and Baroque styles, resulting from interventions carried out between the 16th and 18th centuries. An important milestone in this evolution is the date of 1774, visible on the cartouche of the main portal, which marks a significant phase of the temple's reconstruction.
The main façade of the church, with its white rendering, stands out for the elegance of its counter-curved gable, highlighted by Tuscan pilasters at the corners. These are crowned by conical pinnacles and a Latin cross in stonework, giving it a distinctive presence. The entrance portal, with a depressed arch lintel, displays the aforementioned cartouche with the historical date. Attached to the left side façade, the bell tower rises, divided into two registers and crowned by a belfry with a perfect arch, where the bell that marks the community's time resides. The side façades, also in light tones, feature elements such as a transverse door and a quadrilobed oculus in the chancel, which enrich the architectural ensemble.
Inside, the Church of São Martinho de Coura reveals a space of great artistic richness. The walls, plastered and painted white, create a backdrop for the magnificence of the polychrome and gilded carving present in its altarpieces. The wooden pavement, with granite guides, suggests the location of ancient graves, inviting a moment of reflection. The nave houses a wooden choir loft and a stone pulpit. In the chancel, the main altarpiece, with a Mannerist structure, impresses with its twisted columns and atlantean angels. The ceilings, both of the nave and the chancel, are made of wood painted blue and adorned with moldings, cartouches with Eucharistic motifs and a representation of São Martinho, the parish's patron saint. Two Baroque collateral altarpieces, arranged at an angle and joined by carved panels, flank the triumphal arch, featuring in the center a painting of the Lord of the Green Cane, an element of remarkable artistic interest.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.8804754,-8.6498715
Coordinates DMS: 41°52'49.7"N 08°38'59.5"W
Weather Coura
On-duty Pharmacy Coura
