Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Vila Real > Mondim de Basto > Bilhó > Bairro do Torrão
The Church of Divino Salvador de Bilhó is located in the village of Bilhó, municipality of Mondim de Basto, within the area known as Bairro do Torrão. It is situated in a serene and paved square, standing out in the center of the settlement. The surrounding area is distinctly rural and tranquil, with a churchyard that invites contemplation, bordered by a granite wall with stone benches.
This temple is a remarkable example of religious architecture that merges Rococo elements. Its longitudinal plan structure consists of a single nave that connects with a chancel, the latter being lower and narrower, to which a sacristy and a bell tower are attached. The facades are clad in exposed granite ashlar, with corner pilasters crowned by pinnacles that give the building a distinctive appearance.
The main facade, facing east, is topped by a gable and features an arched lintel portal, adorned with inscribed cartouches. Above the portal, a niche houses the image of the patron saint, crowned by a Borrominian-inspired counter-curved cornice, which lends a touch of originality and late Baroque refinement.
Inside, the church reveals wooden false barrel vault ceilings, covering both the main nave and the chancel. A wooden choir loft complements the nave's entrance, and elegantly crafted pulpits are symmetrically arranged. The facing side chapels display late-Baroque altarpieces, with rich gilded and polychrome carving.
The chancel stands out with its Rococo altarpiece, featuring a concave plan and three axes, which impresses with its artistic composition. On its walls, blue and white patterned tiles can be observed, which, although more recent, complement the atmosphere of devotion and the decorative richness of the space.
The current church, as it stands, resulted from a significant campaign of works in the 18th century, completed in 1773, a date visible on the cartouches of the main facade. These inscriptions perpetuate the memory of Sergeant-Major Antão Gil, one of the main benefactors who propelled the construction of this building.
The presence of a community and a parish in Bilhó, dedicated to Divino Salvador, has much older roots, with documentary references dating back to the 13th century, testifying to the long and deep connection of this place to faith and the history of the Mondim de Basto region.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.4062936,-7.8525464
Coordinates DMS: 41°24'22.7"N 07°51'9.2"W
Weather Bilhó
On-duty Pharmacy Bilhó
