Churches   in  Portugal



  Churches in Portugal are in general very different from the churches in Spain and elsewhere in Europe. Most churches in the north of Portugal date from the baroque period, others are very simple with little or no decoration. On our trip we did not encounter many gothic churches and it was a great surprise to find romanesque and pre-romanesque churches or remains of those. Our trip was mainly in the country, trying to avoid townships.  



   

We set off in the north, the province of Minho and found many white churches dating from around the middle of the 18th century. The towers are wonderful with their striking structure.
The use of ceramic tiles is or was a sign of wealth of the community but many village churches have white washed walls.

Left and right, the church of Bico.

   



    Here is the church of Ferreira.

Many churches have windows consisting of little square pieces of glass. Above the entrance of the church is a window with a cross of a brownish red glass. Often some or all the windows in the other walls have such a cross. 		   



    The church in Tavora is bigger than the two churches above. Also there are more steps to the church. On the tower are the well known spouts which look like canons instead of animal figures. Usually one can find a cross near the church but here the cross has two sides. On the one side it is Christ hanging on the cross and on the other side is Saint Mary with Christ taken from the cross.      



    Here, in Gandra, is a church of which the outer walls are completely covered with ceramic tiles. Furthermore there are images on the facade. This is the first church of its kind we came across. The images, do they tell a story like the sculptures on capitals and façades of romanesque and gothic churches ? Indeed they do. Extreme left Saint Mary is potrayed, in the centre Christ and right, on the tower, is an image of St. Martin. Name of the church : Igreja de São Martinho.    



    Another surprise in Lama . A tiled church on a hill to be reached by seven flights of stairs. At the start of every flight of stairs there is a tile picture of the Calvary. The beginning is at the last flght at the top. To follow the Calvary you walk down to fond at each level another picture. When down you go up again for the last picture at the top.    



    On the first picture Jesus is condemned to death and Paul washes his hands off it. On the last picture Jesus is buried.
Regretfully several pictures are damaged. 		   



    On the façade of the church is a message as a tile picture which depicts the Resurrection and the Ascension. There is also a picture of São Salvador.    



    Also the tower is tiled. The graveyard next to the church is very well cared for. Many, many beautiful flowers as if it is an exhibition. But that is not unusual in Portugal. On the wall is a tile picture about death. Very bizarre.    



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