The primitive church of Viana’s urban settlement was built around 1260, after D. Gil Martins de Riba de Vizela received in donation (1259) the estate of Foxem (space that gave origin to the village), and was located in a place slightly away from where the present Parish Church is now implanted. Called Santa Maria de Foxem, this church was built, according to Francisco Baião, in the place where the Tourism Office currently works, that is, to the left of whoever enters through the North door of the castle. However, Espanca places the first Council of Viana in that same place. What is certain is that in 1580, and until 1683, the Council really operated within the walled enclosure of the castle, regardless of its exact location. However, it is possible to suppose that in the same space functioned first the primitive church and later the Council, after disaffection of the cult, mainly after the construction of the new parochial church– in the beginning of the 16^th century.
But more relevant is the fact that the location pointed out by Baião refuted the theory, traditionally divulged by some authors, that the primitive Main Church was in the church of Santo Aleixo, afterwards of São João (Saint John) (nowadays inexistent and that was located in the place of the old Elementary school of São João). This thesis is based on the fact that there were no vestiges of burials found in São João, being the usual practice to locate graveyards around the parish churches; and the hardness of the surrounding terrain, which hindered that function. On the contrary, in addition to the vestiges, within the castle, of a period building prior to the construction of the fortress (with a Romanesque window and a portal of the early Gothic); also in the surrounding ring of the already mentioned church of Santa Maria’s location, where the ground is much easier to excavate, medieval burials have been found, as well as several funeral stones (some reused, in fact, in the construction of the castle).
The present parochial church of Nossa Senhora da Anunciação (Our Lady of the Annunciation), implanted inside the castle, is a construction already from the beginning of the 16^th century, that is integrated in the Gothic architectural style, with high expression of the decorative Manuelino style, mainly in the portal, considered one of the most precious examples of this style in the south of the country.
Construction attributed to Diogo de Arruda, who in 1521 was nominated master builder of the king in the region of Alentejo and was one of the most outstanding names in architecture of this period. This church has similarities with the church of Madalena de Olivença and with the old Cathedral of Elvas, showing great care and quality of execution.
The church has three naves, where several decorative elements of the Manueline style and of Mudéjar inspiration are found in the vaults, in the fonts of holy water and in the altars. It has three principal chapels: the main chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Anunciação (Our Lady of the Annunciation), where the images of Virgin Mary and the Angel Gabriel, announcing that she will be the mother of Jesus, can be found; the chapel of Nossa Senhora do Rosário (Our Lady of the Rosary), with a Mannerist altarpiece, on the side of the Gospel (on the left); and the Capela das Almas (Chapel of Souls), with an 18^th century altarpiece, of gilded and marbled woodcarving, on the side of the Epistle (on the right).
The side façades of the church are covered with ashlars of polychrome tiles with three types of pattern, dating, like the pulpit, from the 16^th century.
The chinks in the transept that illuminate the church had stained glass windows from the 16^th century, deeply intervened in the 20^th century, which represent São Pedro (Saint Peter) and a character identified, with reservations, as D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, the Holy Constable. They are today exposed in the interpretative space of the castle.
In the left side nave, near the sacristy, stands the altar of the Christ Child in gilded woodcarving, rococo style, built in the 18^th century. In the same nave is the tomb chapel of Diogo Godinho, knight of the House of D. Manuel I, recently consecrated to Senhor Jesus dos Passos (Lord Jesus of Steps) because in it was installed the confraternity of the same invocation and, before, the respective image. Its structure dates from the time of the building’s foundation, but received several baroque elements.
Of the original time it maintains the baptismal fountain, but the paintings that decorate the façades are from the 19^th century.
To the right of the entrance is the funeral monument erected in 1859 to receive the bones of Padre Luís António da Cruz, who died in 1848. In the new sepulchral space was inscribed: In memory of Rector Luiz Antonio da Cruz, founder of the Institute of Piety and Beneficence of this town, who passed away on 27^th September 1848. The Junta de Parochia (parish council) of Vianna d ‘Alemtejo, in testimony of gratitude, erected this monument, and for him to transfer his bones, in the year 1859.
Over the sacristy, with access through the exterior of the building, is located the Capela de Santo Antonio (chapel of Saint Anthony).
 
Protection: National Monument, Decreto de 16-06-1910, DG n.º 136 de 23 junho 1910 / ZEP / Zona "non aedificandi", Portaria, DG, 2.ª série, n.º 150 de 30 junho 194
 

REFERENCES
BAIÃO, Francisco, “A «vila que chamam Foxem e o seu termo»”, Boletim Municipal do Município de Viana do Alentejo, nº79, Junho de 2013, p. 38-39
CARAPINHA, Aurora, “Os vitrais da igreja Matriz de Viana do Alentejo, Boletim Municipal do Município de Viana do Alentejo, nº 77, Dezembro de 2012, p38.
ESPANCA, Túlio, Inventário Artístico de Portugal: Distrito de Évora: Concelhos de Alandroal, Borba, Mourão, Portel, Redondo, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Viana do Alentejo e Vila Viçosa, Lisboa, Academia Nacional de Belas-Artes, 1978,Tomo IX, Vol. 1.