Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Viseu > Sernancelhe > Cunha
The Church of S. Facundo is located in the peaceful village of Cunha, in the municipality of Sernancelhe. Nestled in a landscape that reflects the serene beauty of inland Portugal, the church invites a moment of pause and contemplation, at the heart of the local community.
The Church of S. Facundo is a living testament to centuries of history, recognized for its importance as a Monument of Public Interest. Although its precise dating is uncertain, its origin dates back to a pre-Romanesque period, perhaps between the 9th and 10th centuries. This deep past gives it a unique status, being one of the oldest religious buildings in the region, carrying with it echoes of remote times and deeply rooted beliefs.
The temple observed today dates mainly from the 13th century, the result of a remodelling that gave it a late Romanesque character. Its main facade stands out, rising remarkably, culminating in a double bell tower. This elevation gives it an imposing and unique presence in the village landscape, reflecting the robustness and simplicity characteristic of medieval architecture in inland Portugal.
One of the most curious and engaging aspects of the Church of S. Facundo is a legend associated with the threshold of its main door. It is said that, during an ancient confrontation between Christians and Moors, a Moorish warrior, in flight, tried to take refuge in the temple. His Christian pursuer, upon reaching the entrance, saw the horse he was riding have its horseshoes embedded in the stone. The legend says that the marks of these horseshoes remain visible in the stonework, a petrified testimony to an event that marked the history and faith of the place, inviting visitors to look for these traces and imagine the unfolding of this ancestral narrative.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.8374515,-7.450248
Coordinates DMS: 40°50'14.8"N 07°27'0.9"W
Weather Cunha
On-duty Pharmacy Cunha
