Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Viseu > Lamego > Lamego > Almacave
The church stands in the Almacave area, in Lamego, in a position that benefits from an elevated view over the city. It is located in an urban environment, but its setting in a landscaped area, in a noble space, gives it a particular atmosphere. Next to the main facade, visitors can observe a Calvary and a Cruzeiro (stone cross), which complement the surrounding landscape.
This remarkable building originated as a female monastery of Poor Clares nuns, dedicated to Saint Clare and the Five Wounds. The first stone was laid in 1588, by initiative of the Bishop of Lamego, D. António Teles de Meneses. The prelate, whose life ended in 1598, has his tomb located outside, next to the cruzeiro. With the extinction of religious orders in 1834, the convent lost its original functions. Later, after a fire in 1911 that destroyed the old Misericórdia Church of Lamego, this place was donated to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia, assuming its current designation and use as a confraternity church ever since.
The church is a testament to the transition from Mannerist to Baroque styles, with elements extending through the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Its main facade, built in exposed stonework, stands out for its perfect arch portal, flanked by classical columns with Ionic capitals. Above, an entablature displays the coat of arms of the founding bishop and an epigraphic inscription, topped by a triangular pediment with pinnacles. The architectural complex, which once included cloisters, choirs, and other monastic dependencies, shows a horizontal composition of volumes.
Upon entering the church, visitors are immediately surprised by the richness of its interior. The nave walls are almost entirely lined with polychrome pattern tiles (azulejos), dated from the 17th century, which display complex geometric motifs, such as interlinked circles and quatrefoils, as well as checkered designs with vegetal details. The false barrel vault ceiling, made of wood and painted with an impressive trompe l'oeil effect, creates the illusion of a majestic dome, supported by a profusion of columns, entablatures, angels, and floral vases. In the chancel, the gilded altarpieces stand out, some in the national style, which with their Solomonic columns and shell motifs, represent a significant artistic expression of the period. The square-shaped pulpit, with its stone basin and turned balustrade, is another notable artistic element.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.101646,-7.81083
Coordinates DMS: 41°06'5.9"N 07°48'39.0"W
Weather Lamego
On-duty Pharmacy Lamego
