Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Vila Real > Santa Marta de Penaguião > Alvações do Corgo > Salgueiro
The temple stands in the small area of Salgueiro, in Alvações do Corgo, municipality of Santa Marta de Penaguião. Situated on a paved platform, it dominates the valley with an open view of the terraced slopes covered with vineyards, typical of the Douro region. The surroundings are tranquil, marked by scattered houses and narrow paths that wind along the mountainside.
The main facade faces the local road, protected by wrought iron railings and flanked by olive trees, which provide shade and a green setting for most of the year.
The dedication to Saint Anthony indicates a devotion already established in the 17th century, the era of its initial construction. A fire that occurred about a century ago destroyed part of the interior, but the altar of the Senhor dos Passos (Our Lord of Sorrows) escaped, preserving the national Baroque style that characterizes the ensemble.
Successive restoration campaigns have maintained the parish function and ensured the conservation of liturgical pieces dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, essential to the local religious memory.
The floor plan is rectangular, with a single nave, a sacristy attached to the right side, and a slightly lower chancel. The facade features a trefoil window and is topped by a cross, while the bell tower, attached to the left, sports a clock and an open belfry.
Inside, the altar of the Senhor dos Passos stands out, in Baroque gilded carving, placed on the Gospel side, next to the wooden choir with a balustrade. The twisted columns, painted wine-red and adorned with vines, bunches of grapes, and birds, showcase the decorative taste of the 18th century.
Painted and upholstered images of St. John and St. Euphemia, both from the 18th century, are preserved, as well as an ivory Crucifix above the tabernacle. In the sacristy, a stone washbasin dating from 1732 remains, adorned with a putto face, and a large-scale sculpture of the Crucified Christ (17th century).
From the churchyard, a continuous panorama of terraced vineyards can be observed descending to the bed of the Corgo river, a landscape that changes color with the seasons: intense greens in spring, golden hues in summer, and deep ochres in autumn. This natural setting integrates the church into the wine-growing identity of the region.
The granite staircase and the cobblestone pavement reinforce the rural character of the ensemble. The ringing of the bell echoes through the valleys, marking the daily rhythm of the community and serving as an acoustic reminder of the unifying role the temple continues to play.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.1971293,-7.7535054
Coordinates DMS: 41°11'49.7"N 07°45'12.6"W
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