Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Viseu > Lamego > Ferreirim
Located in the serene village of Ferreirim, in the municipality of Lamego, this imposing building rises in a rural valley, offering a panoramic and tranquil landscape. The site, isolated from the hustle and bustle, invites contemplation, with the monastery dominating the landscape, flanked by a churchyard that underscores its historical presence. Its characteristic tower is peculiarly attached to the church's structure.
This remarkable monument had its roots as a Franciscan male convent, founded in the early 16th century, in 1525, by D. Francisco Coutinho, on condition that the pre-existing tower be preserved. Throughout the centuries, the building underwent various interventions and expansions, shaping its current architectural configuration. Thus, we witness a construction that reflects the passage of time, with elements dating from the 14th, 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, each contributing to its rich narrative.
The main façade of the monastery stands out for its complexity and the volumes that articulate irregularly. A narthex welcomes visitors, with a portal featuring two archivolts with lowered lintels, adorned with florets and foliage. Above the narthex, three rectangular fenestrations with a central oculus, and an armorial triangular pediment crowning the main body, reveal the care taken in its construction. The square-plan tower deserves special attention with its balconies, gargoyles, and battlements, featuring a pyramidal wooden top on its interior.
Inside the single-nave church, a vast array of artistic details unfolds. The high choir and the chancel are focal points, the latter framed by a polychrome triumphal arch. In the chancel, a splendid gilded altarpiece and an armorial and polychrome arcosolium, where D. Francisco Coutinho's tomb chest rests, are examples of the decorative richness. The wooden coffered ceilings, both in the nave and the chancel, enrich the space, with the chancel's ceiling standing out for its images of saints.
One of the monastery's greatest treasures lies in its 16th-century painting panels. These works, of inestimable value, are attributed to the celebrated Masters of Ferreirim, a group of painters including names such as Cristóvão de Figueiredo, Garcia Fernandes, and Gregório Lopes. Their presence elevates the site to a level of significant cultural and artistic interest for those who appreciate sacred art and the history of 16th-century Portuguese painting.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.05188515,-7.78342251
Coordinates DMS: 41°03'6.8"N 07°47'0.3"W
Weather Ferreirim
On-duty Pharmacy Ferreirim
