The Church of São Miguel do Castelo (Portuguese: Igreja de São Miguel do Castelo) is a medieval church in the civil parish of Oliveira do Castelo, municipality of Guimarães, in the northern district of Braga of Portugal. The church is emblematically linked to the foundation of the Portuguese Kingdom. Legend suggests that it was the sight of the baptism of the young Afonso Henriques.[1] These claims are contradictory, since the date of the church's founding has been suggested to be during the reign of Afonso II of Portugal.
A rare image of the Church of São Miguel do Castelo prior to reconstruction that restored the facade of the church to its medieval appearanceThe landscape of Monte Latito within the Colina Sagrada (Sarcred Hill) of Guimarães
It was constructed within the circle of the Castle of Guimarães, with which it intimately shares a relationship. A few authors argue that it was the church where Afonso Henriques was baptized, dating its probable construction to the 9th or 10th century, during the era of Countess Mumadona Dias, exalting the ancestry of the Church and perpetuating the legend.[1][2] This current of nationalist histography, which ideologically supported a Romantic revisionism dates to the 19th century and continues to this day (as evidenced from the plaque erected on the site).[2]
Yet, this interpretation contradicts that date of its consecration and first reference by the Church, which only occurred in the 13th century, in conditions particularly difficult for these early ancestors.[2] The church was first referenced in 1216, in a document to the collegiate of canons in Guimarães.[1] Its construction occurred even as this group of clergy were quarrelling with the powerful Archbishop of Braga, which later led to armed confrontation.[2][3] The building of the Church was justified by the need of a temple in Guimarães, a decision which escaped the Archbishop at the time.[2] It was later consecrated by the Archbishop of Braga circa 1239. Later, it was also referred to as a suffrage of Santa Maria de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira in 1258.[1][2]
During the Inquirições (inquiries/inventory) of King Afonso III of Portugal the church was referenced in its construction, noting the involvement of the stonemason Garcia Petrarius, who was likely a Moor.[1][4]
An inscription relating to later re-modelling was unveiled in 1664.[1]
In 1795, the prior of the Collegiate of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira ordered the substitution of the cross arch in this year.[1]
By 1870, the temple ceased to be the parochial church owing to the considerable degradation and ruin of the building. In ruins during the totality of the 1870s, a commission of notable inhabitants in Guimarães, affiliated with the Sociedade Martins Sarmento, proceeded to restore and maintain the essential characteristics that the church had accumulated along the centuries. Between 1874 and 1880, public works to restore the building, including the re-positioning of the primitive cross arch were undertaken.[1] On their completion, the church was once again opened to the public for services.[1]
In 1957, the area around the chapel was restored by the landscape artist Viana Barreto.[1]
The General-Directorate for Buildings and National Monuments (Portuguese: Direcção Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais) demolished the main body of the sacristy to the southern lateral facade, in order to restore the original medieval character of the church.[1] It was followed in 1936 with the dismantling of the steeple that existed on the facade, resulting in a reconstruction and repairs to the gable. Similar renovations and reconstructions were carried out in 1939 (new roof and doors) and reinforcement of the chapel cracks with six boxes of wire mesh in 1963.[1]
ArchitectureEdit
Main entrance with a facade that includes an archivolt portico, slit windows and cross fleuryThe ornate arcosolium on the northern facade of the Church
The Church stands on the northern limit of the historic centre of Guimarães, on the flank of Monte Latito, encircled by forest and accessible by several pedestrian trails.[1] To the southeast is the Chapel of Santa Cruz, to the north is the Castle of Guimarães and to the south the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza.[1]
Stylistically, the building appears to conform to secondary status on the Sacred Hill (Portuguese: Colina Sagrada) of Guimarães.[2] Manuel Monteiro highlighted that the chapel was simple, and concluded that it was a slightly illegal construction (as indicated by the conflict between the Archbishop and the canons of Guimarães).[2] Its almost lack of decoration, with compact walls, low lighting and simple plan (nave and juxtapositioned chancel), were to Monteiro's opinion, indicators of an illegal treatment of the building.[2] When the Archbishop finally consecrated the building the influence of Gothic architecture began to be promoted within the territories, and Romanesque treatments were seen as a resistance to the new style.[2]
The longitudinal church existing of a single rectangular nave and chancel, is built on staggered horizontal spaces covered in a tiled-roof.[2] The walls are constructed in granite blocks topped by gables, while the lateral walls support double eaves.[1] The main facade with portico with interrupted lintel includes a double arch with simple tympanum. The archway is flanked by beams supporting the main body, while a slit window surmounts the entrance and a cross fleury at the apex of its frontispiece.[1] The lateral southern and northern walls are accessible by doors with lintels, and surmounted by demarcated arch with complementary beams and slit windows (as in the facade, but less grande).[1]
The northern façade also includes to arcosolium on either side of the door, one semi-ornate that includes archivolt decoration and the other a more simple.[1] There are no indications whether either arcosolium at one time held remains. The posterior wall also includes a slit window open to the apse and Maltese cross above the main body of the nave.[1]
InteriorEdit
The simple granite walls of the church are duplicated in the granite slabs that are applied to the floor. Many of the slabs are inscribed and decorated as funeral sepulchres with the names of knights who fell in the line of duty.[1]
At the front left of the chapel is the baptismal font, made of granite in a simple circular form.[1] This baptistery is demarcated by an iron gate crowned in stylized fleur-de-lis. Alongside is a stone with inscription stating that the baptistery was used to baptize Afonso Henriques in 1106.[citation needed] Lateral porticos are carved into simple arches.[1] A full triumphal arch is decorated with frieze with interlocking ribbon motifs, while a cornice runs across the perimeter of the temple.[1]
On a one-step platform in the chancel is a granite altar that stands against the wall fascia on footstool of two steps.[1]
ReferencesEdit
Notes
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxSereno, Isabel; Dordio, Paulo; Gonçalves, Joaquim (2005). SIPA (ed.). "Igreja Paroquial de São Miguel do Castelo/Igreja de São Miguel do Castelo" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico.
^ abcdefghijkIGESPAR, ed. (2011). "Igreja de São Miguel do Castelo" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectonico e Arquélogico. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
Portugal/1: Europa Romanica, Madrid, Spain: Gerhard N Graf, Ediciones Encuentro, 1987
DGEMN, ed. (1940), Boletim (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Direcção Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais
MOP, ed. (1953), Relatório da Actividade do Ministério no ano de 1952 (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Ministério das Obras Públicas
Tesouros Artísticos de Portugal (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal, 1976{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Almeida, Carlos Alberto Ferreira de (1978), Arquitectura Românica de Entre-Douro-e-Minho, Dissertação de Doutoramento em História de Arte (in Portuguese), vol. 2, Porto, Portugal: Faculty of Letters, University of Porto, pp. 227–229
Almeida, Carlos Alberto Ferreira de (1986), "Geografia da Arquitectura Românica", História da Arte em Portugal (in Portuguese), vol. 3, Lisbon, Portugal, pp. 50–131{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
IPPAR, ed. (1993), Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico Classificado, Inventário (in Portuguese), vol. II, Braga, Portugal{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Forte, Joaquim (18 January 2004), "Encontrada no castelo estrutura edificada", Jornal de Notícias Minho (in Portuguese), p. 8
October 24, 2023
church, são, miguel, castelo, portuguese, igreja, são, miguel, castelo, medieval, church, civil, parish, oliveira, castelo, municipality, guimarães, northern, district, braga, portugal, church, emblematically, linked, foundation, portuguese, kingdom, legend, s. The Church of Sao Miguel do Castelo Portuguese Igreja de Sao Miguel do Castelo is a medieval church in the civil parish of Oliveira do Castelo municipality of Guimaraes in the northern district of Braga of Portugal The church is emblematically linked to the foundation of the Portuguese Kingdom Legend suggests that it was the sight of the baptism of the young Afonso Henriques 1 These claims are contradictory since the date of the church s founding has been suggested to be during the reign of Afonso II of Portugal Church of Sao MiguelChurch of the Archangel MichaelIgreja de Sao MiguelFacade of the Church41 26 50 23 N 8 17 27 41 W 41 4472861 N 8 2909472 W 41 4472861 8 2909472LocationBraga Grande Porto NorteCountryPortugalWebsitepduques wbr imc ip wbr ptArchitectureStyleRomanesqueSpecificationsLength8 75 m 28 7 ft Width22 85 m 75 0 ft Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 2 1 Interior 3 ReferencesHistory Edit nbsp A rare image of the Church of Sao Miguel do Castelo prior to reconstruction that restored the facade of the church to its medieval appearance nbsp The landscape of Monte Latito within the Colina Sagrada Sarcred Hill of GuimaraesIt was constructed within the circle of the Castle of Guimaraes with which it intimately shares a relationship A few authors argue that it was the church where Afonso Henriques was baptized dating its probable construction to the 9th or 10th century during the era of Countess Mumadona Dias exalting the ancestry of the Church and perpetuating the legend 1 2 This current of nationalist histography which ideologically supported a Romantic revisionism dates to the 19th century and continues to this day as evidenced from the plaque erected on the site 2 Yet this interpretation contradicts that date of its consecration and first reference by the Church which only occurred in the 13th century in conditions particularly difficult for these early ancestors 2 The church was first referenced in 1216 in a document to the collegiate of canons in Guimaraes 1 Its construction occurred even as this group of clergy were quarrelling with the powerful Archbishop of Braga which later led to armed confrontation 2 3 The building of the Church was justified by the need of a temple in Guimaraes a decision which escaped the Archbishop at the time 2 It was later consecrated by the Archbishop of Braga circa 1239 Later it was also referred to as a suffrage of Santa Maria de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira in 1258 1 2 During the Inquiricoes inquiries inventory of King Afonso III of Portugal the church was referenced in its construction noting the involvement of the stonemason Garcia Petrarius who was likely a Moor 1 4 An inscription relating to later re modelling was unveiled in 1664 1 In 1795 the prior of the Collegiate of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira ordered the substitution of the cross arch in this year 1 By 1870 the temple ceased to be the parochial church owing to the considerable degradation and ruin of the building In ruins during the totality of the 1870s a commission of notable inhabitants in Guimaraes affiliated with the Sociedade Martins Sarmento proceeded to restore and maintain the essential characteristics that the church had accumulated along the centuries Between 1874 and 1880 public works to restore the building including the re positioning of the primitive cross arch were undertaken 1 On their completion the church was once again opened to the public for services 1 In 1957 the area around the chapel was restored by the landscape artist Viana Barreto 1 The General Directorate for Buildings and National Monuments Portuguese Direccao Geral dos Edificios e Monumentos Nacionais demolished the main body of the sacristy to the southern lateral facade in order to restore the original medieval character of the church 1 It was followed in 1936 with the dismantling of the steeple that existed on the facade resulting in a reconstruction and repairs to the gable Similar renovations and reconstructions were carried out in 1939 new roof and doors and reinforcement of the chapel cracks with six boxes of wire mesh in 1963 1 Architecture Edit nbsp Main entrance with a facade that includes an archivolt portico slit windows and cross fleury nbsp The ornate arcosolium on the northern facade of the ChurchThe Church stands on the northern limit of the historic centre of Guimaraes on the flank of Monte Latito encircled by forest and accessible by several pedestrian trails 1 To the southeast is the Chapel of Santa Cruz to the north is the Castle of Guimaraes and to the south the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza 1 Stylistically the building appears to conform to secondary status on the Sacred Hill Portuguese Colina Sagrada of Guimaraes 2 Manuel Monteiro highlighted that the chapel was simple and concluded that it was a slightly illegal construction as indicated by the conflict between the Archbishop and the canons of Guimaraes 2 Its almost lack of decoration with compact walls low lighting and simple plan nave and juxtapositioned chancel were to Monteiro s opinion indicators of an illegal treatment of the building 2 When the Archbishop finally consecrated the building the influence of Gothic architecture began to be promoted within the territories and Romanesque treatments were seen as a resistance to the new style 2 The longitudinal church existing of a single rectangular nave and chancel is built on staggered horizontal spaces covered in a tiled roof 2 The walls are constructed in granite blocks topped by gables while the lateral walls support double eaves 1 The main facade with portico with interrupted lintel includes a double arch with simple tympanum The archway is flanked by beams supporting the main body while a slit window surmounts the entrance and a cross fleury at the apex of its frontispiece 1 The lateral southern and northern walls are accessible by doors with lintels and surmounted by demarcated arch with complementary beams and slit windows as in the facade but less grande 1 The northern facade also includes to arcosolium on either side of the door one semi ornate that includes archivolt decoration and the other a more simple 1 There are no indications whether either arcosolium at one time held remains The posterior wall also includes a slit window open to the apse and Maltese cross above the main body of the nave 1 Interior Edit The simple granite walls of the church are duplicated in the granite slabs that are applied to the floor Many of the slabs are inscribed and decorated as funeral sepulchres with the names of knights who fell in the line of duty 1 At the front left of the chapel is the baptismal font made of granite in a simple circular form 1 This baptistery is demarcated by an iron gate crowned in stylized fleur de lis Alongside is a stone with inscription stating that the baptistery was used to baptize Afonso Henriques in 1106 citation needed Lateral porticos are carved into simple arches 1 A full triumphal arch is decorated with frieze with interlocking ribbon motifs while a cornice runs across the perimeter of the temple 1 On a one step platform in the chancel is a granite altar that stands against the wall fascia on footstool of two steps 1 References EditNotes a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Sereno Isabel Dordio Paulo Goncalves Joaquim 2005 SIPA ed Igreja Paroquial de Sao Miguel do Castelo Igreja de Sao Miguel do Castelo in Portuguese Lisbon Portugal SIPA Sistema de Informacao para o Patrimonio Arquitectonico a b c d e f g h i j k IGESPAR ed 2011 Igreja de Sao Miguel do Castelo in Portuguese Lisbon Portugal Instituto de Gestao do Patrimonio Arquitectonico e Arquelogico Retrieved 26 December 2012 Gerhard N Graf 1986 p 157 Carlos Almeida 1978 p 227 228 SourcesPortugal 1 Europa Romanica Madrid Spain Gerhard N Graf Ediciones Encuentro 1987 DGEMN ed 1940 Boletim in Portuguese Lisbon Portugal Direccao Geral dos Edificios e Monumentos Nacionais MOP ed 1953 Relatorio da Actividade do Ministerio no ano de 1952 in Portuguese Lisbon Portugal Ministerio das Obras Publicas Tesouros Artisticos de Portugal in Portuguese Lisbon Portugal 1976 a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Almeida Carlos Alberto Ferreira de 1978 Arquitectura Romanica de Entre Douro e Minho Dissertacao de Doutoramento em Historia de Arte in Portuguese vol 2 Porto Portugal Faculty of Letters University of Porto pp 227 229 Almeida Carlos Alberto Ferreira de 1986 Geografia da Arquitectura Romanica Historia da Arte em Portugal in Portuguese vol 3 Lisbon Portugal pp 50 131 a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint location missing publisher link IPPAR ed 1993 Patrimonio Arquitectonico e Arqueologico Classificado Inventario in Portuguese vol II Braga Portugal a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Forte Joaquim 18 January 2004 Encontrada no castelo estrutura edificada Jornal de Noticias Minho in Portuguese p 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Church of Sao Miguel do Castelo amp oldid 1143552843, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
