Church of Porto Covo
| Church of Porto Covo | |
|---|---|
| Church of Our Lady of Solitude | |
Igreja de Porto Covo | |
 The austere facade of the Baroque-style parochial church of Porto Covo | |
 | |
| 37°51′5.05″N 8°47′29.71″W / 37.8514028°N 8.7915861°W | |
| Location | Setúbal, Alentejo Litoral, Alentejo |
| Country | Portugal |
| History | |
| Dedication | Porto Covo |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Joaquim Guilherme d'Oliveira |
| Style | Baroque, Neoclassic |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 14.90 m (48.9 ft) |
| Width | 12.72 m (41.7 ft) |
The Church of Porto Covo (Portuguese: Igreja de Porto Covo) is Baroque and Neoclassic church in the civil parish, municipality of Sines, in the Atlantic coast of the Portuguese Alentejo. The church's austere lines is a morphological hybridization of the styles employed during the reign of Queen Maria I.[1] In the widespread typology of regional architecture, the Baroque elements are evident in the lintels and trim curves, framed in a composition that is, generally, more rigid then in the gable design.[1][2]
History
[edit]Around the end of the 18th century, the church was constructed within the remodelling of the Largo Marquês de Pombal by Joaquim Guilherme d'Oliveira.[1][2]
Architecture
[edit]The church is a rare example, important for the group details and composition, including pinnacles and triumphal arch, different from the vernacular characteristics of other temples of the same size in the region.[2]
The church is located in the centre of a large square (Largo Marquês de Pombal), aligned with trees and a central garden. It has a longitudinal plan, formed of a nave and a narrower presbytery, with lateral sacristy and tiled articulated spaces.[2] The principal facade is oriented towards the north, defined by accented corners, a finial gable crowned by a cross (resting on a plinth in masonry) and stone urns on plinths crowning the corners.[1][2] The church portal is an arched frame, surmounted by a big window with ornate semi-circular frame.[2] The lateral facades are simple with no doorways or windows.
Interior
[edit]The unique nave is covered in wood with three plans, with a lower footer in blue and white azulejo tile.[2] Within this space, framed by the same portal and window, to the right, is a basin for holy water, while a triumphal arch framed in stonework, with pilasters and single step.[2]
The presbytery is covered with vaulted-ceiling, with cornice, while the main altar is preceded by two steps and framed within a gilded retable.[2] A central rounded niche is flanked by pilasters with volutes and upper architecture in multiple lobes, framed by a medallion with the monogram AM circled by glint and urns.[1][2] On either side are corbels and false niches gilded and painted. On the left wall is a doorway to the sacristy.[2]
The church is constructed of stone masonry and mortar primarily, plastered and whitewashed, with the portal and secondary elements in stone.[2] In addition, the elements of the church include tile covering of straw, wood-lined ceilings with dome plastered and whitewashed, tiled floors, wooden window frames, gilded altarpiece and polychromatic tiles.[2]
References
[edit]- Notes
- ^ a b c d e Câmara Municipal, ed. (2010), Igreja de Porto Covo (in Portuguese), Sines, Portugal: Câmara Municipal de Sines, archived from the original on 14 November 2013, retrieved 9 May 2012
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Falcão, José; Pereira, Ricardo (1999), SIPA (ed.), Igreja de Porto Covo (v. PT041513020014) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, archived from the original on 5 March 2016, retrieved 9 May 2012