Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Viseu > Cinfães > Souselo > Escamarão
The Church of Nossa Senhora da Natividade is situated in the Escamarão area, belonging to the locality of Souselo, in the municipality of Cinfães.
The building stands in an elevated position, halfway up a slope, offering a view over the Douro River valley, which gives it a unique relationship with the surrounding landscape.
This temple represents an interesting example of the transition between the Romanesque and Gothic styles, sometimes characterized as late Romanesque or rural Gothic.
Its construction is conjecturally believed to have begun between the 12th and 13th centuries. An inscription visible next to the main portal, dated 1385, suggests that this may have been the date of its completion.
The church stands out for the solidity of its granite walls, marked by few and narrow openings. The portals feature pointed arches, where the decorated archivolts rest directly on the side supports, without the use of columns or tympana, as would be common in more developed Romanesque.
On the east-facing elevation (chancel), a large pointed-arch window stands out, composed of two lights (geminated), ornamented with decorative elements that mix Gothic forms with motifs of Romanesque influence, such as spheres and stylized flowers. It is also possible to observe the corbel table and some stonemason's marks (sigla) on the walls.
The interior consists of a single nave and a smaller, rectangular chancel. The transition between these two spaces is made by a pointed triumphal arch.
Despite its older origin, the interior underwent significant alterations from the 17th century onwards, reflecting the introduction of Baroque taste. From this phase, the gilded carved wood main altarpiece stands out.
On this main altarpiece, the coat of arms of the Benedictine Order can still be seen, a symbol recalling the church's historical connection to the powerful Monastery of São João de Alpendorada.
Other noteworthy elements in the interior are the "carpet" pattern tiles that cover the fronts of the side altars in the nave, dated from the 15th or 16th century and of Mudejar influence.
The Church of Nossa Senhora da Natividade is recognized for its historical and architectural importance, having been classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1950.
Currently, it is an integral part of the Route of the Romanesque, a route that enhances the region's medieval heritage.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.0659926,-8.2571218
Coordinates DMS: 41°03'57.6"N 08°15'25.6"W
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