Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Viseu > Tabuaço > Santa Leocádia > Barcos e Santa Leocádia
The Mother Church of Santa Leocádia stands in the locality of Santa Leocádia itself, nestled within the area of Barcos and Santa Leocádia, in the municipality of Tabuaço. This temple is positioned as a central point in the village, easily identifiable by its presence in the local urban fabric.
This remarkable temple reveals Baroque architecture, designed in an irregular cross shape. Its exterior, characterized by apparent stonework, is artistically delimited by a projecting cornice and pilasters at the corners, culminating in pyramidal pinnacles. The main gable facade features a scalloped apex and a counter-curved cornice, crowned by a cross with lanceolate shafts.
The main portico is one of the most decorative elements, displaying an elaborate stone frame, laterally enriched with spiral elements. It is topped by a "bat-wing" shaped pediment, flanked by voluted side pieces and centered by an oval oculus, above which is an oval window with a simple stone frame, all in stonework.
Upon crossing the threshold, visitors are greeted by an interior that, despite its dimensions, reveals itself to be surprisingly rich in artistic details. The ceilings, in a false depressed barrel vault, are one of the highlights, decorated with painted coffers. In the nave, there are 45 of these compositions, and in the chancel, 15, all featuring hagiographic representations and scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. Four additional panels with figures of saints cover the niche behind the high altar, and the quality of the execution of the nave's coffers is particularly notable.
The ceiling beams themselves are richly adorned with gilded carving, contributing to the opulence of the space. Also noteworthy are the baptismal font, in the shape of a fluted bowl resting on a square-section shaft, and the presence of Atlantes angels which, originally supporting the choir loft, now function as corbels, accommodating religious imagery on the nave walls.
The church's altarpieces are a testament to the mastery of giltwood carving, predominantly gilded and punctuated by some polychrome elements, all sculpted in the style known as "National Baroque." In the side chapel, there is a beautiful altarpiece originating from the old altar of Saint Peter. This piece stands out for being in "white carving," a technique that foregoes polychromy or gold leaf covering, offering a unique and purist perspective of the National Baroque.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.1259845,-7.6272737
Coordinates DMS: 41°07'33.5"N 07°37'38.2"W
Weather Santa Leocádia
On-duty Pharmacy Santa Leocádia
