The Igreja Matriz de São Brás de Alportel, a building in the process of being classified, received this week a visit to monitor and evaluate the restoration work in progress, to learn about the restoration work being carried out there.
Technicians from the Regional Directorate for Culture of the Algarve and the Municipal Offices for urban rehabilitation and archeology of the Municipality of São Brás de Alportel, prior António Farias and the vice-president of the Chamber Marlene Guerreiro, participated in this visit.
Continuing the partnership that has been developed for a long time, in favor of the preservation and enhancement of the religious heritage, the Municipality and the Fábrica da Igreja Paroquial de São Brás de Alportel signed, on October 28, a protocol of collaboration.
Through this protocol, it was established that the Municipality supports the Parish in 20.300 euros, for the restoration of a “set of interesting frescoes, recently discovered, during the restoration of the altarpiece of Senhor dos Passos in the Igreja Matriz”.
This support amount also took into account an investment by the parish in the acquisition of more stained glass windows to adorn the windows of the Mother Church.
These interventions, according to the municipality, «allow the execution of the municipal strategy regarding the preservation and enhancement of the heritage of the municipality of São Brás de Alportel, with the enhancement of the Igreja Matriz, a building in the classification phase, being of enormous importance, given its importance in understanding the story".
The Church is also one of the «most visited and most interesting spaces in the Historic Center of São Brás de Alportel, which also translates into an investment in the promotion of tourism in the municipality, both at the cultural and religious levels» .
«The religious heritage is a valuable legacy of our history and local identity, also representing one of the main tourist attractions in the municipality, whose preservation has been seen as fundamental by the City Council», the municipality also stresses.
The Municipality is preparing informative materials and intends to create a visit itinerary to the Igreja Matriz.
The history of the Mother Church of São Brás de Alportel
The origins of the Igreja Matriz de São Brás de Alportel probably date back to the 1518th century. XV. However, it was only at the beginning of the following century that the first documentary references appeared, referring to the Visitor of the Order of Santiago in XNUMX “that the customers and residents of the said Church made it and built it again”.
In 1554, it was rebuilt, with three naves and five bays, with full arcades based on ashlar columns with Tuscan capitals.
The 1755 earthquake caused considerable damage. A new campaign of works took place in 1799, adding another section and building a new frontispiece.
In 1875, the last addition of this temple was made. This time the chancel was destroyed, raising a large transept, a new ousia, sacristy and various storage rooms.
The side portal leading to the outside, located on the gospel side, is made of limestone and the design of the frame stands out, in the late Baroque style with teardrops on the jambs and arched lintel, topped off by an interrupted frieze, is testimony to the campaign carried out. after the 1755 earthquake.
Noteworthy is the axis marked by the entrance portal, the large window with a triangular finish and an expressive pediment that is inserted in the late Baroque style, where, among other elements, the funerary urns are punctuated.
In the baptistery, there is a marble altarpiece, which follows the neoclassical form. It is a high quality example and is not very common in the Algarve region, as marble altarpieces are rare.
In the chancel there are four painted XNUMXth century canvases, one of which depicts the Holy Trinity. Noteworthy are three sculptures that represent the archangel São Miguel, São Libório and Santa Eulália, all from the XNUMXth century.
The temple is framed in a pleasant terraced garden.
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