Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Viana do Castelo > Valença > Valença > Cristelo Covo e Arão
The Church of Santa Maria dos Anjos is located in Valença, in the heart of its historic fortress. Situated in a wide paved square, its position stands out in the medieval urban environment that surrounds it. Access to the temple is via a staircase, which gives it a certain visual prominence in the context of the area, inviting a peaceful exploration of its exterior and surroundings.
This parish church has deep origins in the Middle Ages, dating back to the mid-13th century. Historical records, such as its mention in 1258 as "Contarasta de Couto" and in 1320 as "Sancte Marie de Valência," attest to its antiquity and importance in the territory. Over the centuries, the building underwent various interventions and adaptations, witnessing periods of great transformation, such as the necessary repairs after the 1755 earthquake or the significant reconstruction works in the early 20th century which, however, sought to preserve its essence. The Carlas funerary chapel, for example, was built in the 16th century, further enriching the complex.
The Church of Santa Maria dos Anjos features a predominantly late Romanesque architectural style, with a rectangular plan consisting of a single nave and a chancel, the latter being lower and narrower. When observing the side facades, it is possible to notice the sigled ashlar stones, marks left by medieval masons. Of note are the corbels that support the cornice, displaying a rich variety of motifs, from anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures to floral and geometric decorations, revealing the popular taste of the time. The main portal, with its three archivolts and phytomorphic capitals, underwent restoration but maintains its original Romanesque inspiration. The quadrangular bell tower was added between the 17th and 18th centuries, giving a particular silhouette to the temple.
Upon entering the church, visitors are met with an environment of exposed granite masonry, with a wooden floor that provides a special welcome. The wooden ceiling, with its curved profile and coffers adorned with florets, is a detail to observe. The baptistery, with its helical basin font, and the pulpit, in white and blue polychrome carving with Rococo ornaments of volutes and shell motifs, are notable elements. The set of altarpieces, both lateral and collateral, and the main altarpiece, reveal the richness of the gilded and polychrome carving, with neoclassical and late-Baroque influences. In the Carlas Chapel, in particular, one can appreciate vestiges of 16th-century mural paintings, which depict a triptych with a representation of the Calvary at the center, accompanied by other figures, offering a window into the religious art of the 16th century.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 42.0326882,-8.6454758
Coordinates DMS: 42°01'57.7"N 08°38'43.7"W
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