Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Vila Real > Mesão Frio > Vila Marim
The Church of Saint Nicholas, also known as the Parish Church of Mesão Frio, rises majestically in the heart of the village of Mesão Frio, in the locality of Vila Marim. Its position is privileged, in an elevated area in Ventuzelas, accessible via a wide front staircase that leads to the churchyard, an inviting and elevated space that frames the temple and offers a tranquil environment to contemplate the architecture.
This remarkable religious building reflects a rich superposition of eras, with its construction spanning the 14th, 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Although its origins date back to a primitive temple, possibly from the 14th century, which was already listed in the register of D. Dinis in 1320, the church today exhibits a harmonious fusion of styles. Its main facade, facing west, already presents Rococo elements, such as its undulating pediment and rectangular portal, adorned with sinuously contoured pilasters and a curved pediment, interrupted by an ornamental motif and topped by an oculus.
The structure follows a longitudinal plan, consisting of a single nave and a chancel, the latter being lower and narrower. On the exterior, on the side wall of the chancel, Gothic arcosolia stand out, still preserving traces of frescoes with figurative painting, testaments to the historical layers the church encompasses.
The interior of the Church of Saint Nicholas dazzles with its artistic opulence. It is richly decorated with altarpieces of gilded and polychrome national style carving, some of which utilize older 16th-century structures. The triumphal arch, which articulates the nave and the chancel, is entirely covered in gilded carving, varying in type and color, which gives it a singular brilliance.
The coffered ceilings are another notable feature, displaying different themes: in the nave, panels with representations of saints from the Catholic hagiology, while in the chancel one can admire scenes from the life of Christ. The side chapels are also of great interest, with emphasis on the Chapel of the Holy Innocents, from the 16th century, which has a barrel vault with molded coffers. The pulpit and the various side altars, also crafted in carving, complete the decorative richness of this place of worship.
One of the most distinctive and historically valuable elements of the church lies in its churchyard, where seven Low Medieval trapezoidal sarcophagi are located. These tomb chests, protected by a porch, are a rare testament to the funerary art of the period. Some of the sarcophagi feature burial cavities with anthropomorphic contours and decorations that include cross pattées, fleur-de-lis, and figurative scenes, such as that of two confronting knights. This collection of medieval tombs is recognized as a Property of Public Interest, highlighting its patrimonial importance and the long history of Mesão Frio.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.1802906,-7.868644
Coordinates DMS: 41°10'49.0"N 07°52'7.1"W
Weather Vila Marim
On-duty Pharmacy Vila Marim
