Abrir ListaThis church dates from the 18th century, built with alms from the inhabitants from nearby villages and fostered by the fellowship of Senhor Jesus das Chagas, said to exist since 1733.
The network of “mercy institutions” that spread out through the entire Portuguese territory during the reign of King Manuel I and following reigns did not reach the small village of Aguiar. This is due to the fact of its reduced number of inhabitants as well as to its small distance from other locations that already had similar institutions, such as Viana do Alentejo and Alcáçovas. But already in the 18th century, Father Luiz Cardoso stated that, in 1732, the people of this village was trying to create a mercy institution at the church called Igreja das Chagas and that, for this purpose, was seeking royal support. He mentions that there was already money set aside for this purpose, left by some inhabitants, dedicated to cult of Our Lady of Mercy. For that intent, there were two processional flags in oil painted on canvas, representing Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia (Our Lady of Mercy) and Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Our Lady of Pity), dated 1733 and 1734.
The hermitage shows two portals, sculptured in white marble: the main one and a lateral one to the west.
The front, flanked by the bell tower to the east, shows a lightning window and a triangular pediment, topped by scrolls with winding and pinnacles that extend through the headboard and lantern of the building.
Inside, the church presents a narthex, one single nave and a choir with a wooden grid, the main chapel and a vestry.
The nave, of a rectangular plant, has a barrelvault. In it, an altar and a pulpit on the side of the Epistle and another altar on the side of the Gospel.
Preceding the main chapel is a round arch.
The main chapel, with its dome shaped cover resting on tubes, is totally decorated with mural paintings from two different campaigns, one from the 17th century and another from the early 19th century.
The main altar, with some depth and where there is an oratory with the image of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, rises upon the front part of the glass window altar inside which a figure of the Dead Christ can be seen.
In the vestry, the highlight is a marble washbasin, with a sculpture of a flying angel and a pediment with a relief cross, bearing the chronogram of 1738.
REFERENCES:
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, Tomo IX, Vol. 1, 1978.
The network of “mercy institutions” that spread out through the entire Portuguese territory during the reign of King Manuel I and following reigns did not reach the small village of Aguiar. This is due to the fact of its reduced number of inhabitants as well as to its small distance from other locations that already had similar institutions, such as Viana do Alentejo and Alcáçovas. But already in the 18th century, Father Luiz Cardoso stated that, in 1732, the people of this village was trying to create a mercy institution at the church called Igreja das Chagas and that, for this purpose, was seeking royal support. He mentions that there was already money set aside for this purpose, left by some inhabitants, dedicated to cult of Our Lady of Mercy. For that intent, there were two processional flags in oil painted on canvas, representing Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia (Our Lady of Mercy) and Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Our Lady of Pity), dated 1733 and 1734.
The hermitage shows two portals, sculptured in white marble: the main one and a lateral one to the west.
The front, flanked by the bell tower to the east, shows a lightning window and a triangular pediment, topped by scrolls with winding and pinnacles that extend through the headboard and lantern of the building.
Inside, the church presents a narthex, one single nave and a choir with a wooden grid, the main chapel and a vestry.
The nave, of a rectangular plant, has a barrelvault. In it, an altar and a pulpit on the side of the Epistle and another altar on the side of the Gospel.
Preceding the main chapel is a round arch.
The main chapel, with its dome shaped cover resting on tubes, is totally decorated with mural paintings from two different campaigns, one from the 17th century and another from the early 19th century.
The main altar, with some depth and where there is an oratory with the image of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, rises upon the front part of the glass window altar inside which a figure of the Dead Christ can be seen.
In the vestry, the highlight is a marble washbasin, with a sculpture of a flying angel and a pediment with a relief cross, bearing the chronogram of 1738.
REFERENCES:
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, Tomo IX, Vol. 1, 1978.
MUNICÍPIO DE VIANA DO ALENTEJO