It is located in the parish of Ponte de Lima, town and municipality of the same name, district of Viana do Castelo, Northern Portugal
The Parish Church of Ponte de Lima, also known as the Parish Church of Ponte de Lima or the Church of Santa Maria dos Anjos that we know today, dates back to the mid-15th century.
History of the Ponte de Lima Parish Church
The Parish Church of Ponte de Lima or Church of Santa Maria dos Anjos dates back to a temple built between the 12th and 13th centuries of modest dimensions (only one nave) and Romanesque features.
In the Courts of Évora in 1444, the Ponte de Lima prosecutors declared that the “old Church was so small that we could not fit in” and suggests that the construction of the new temple had already begun.
The financial resources for the new temple were provided by João I of Portugal and the regent D. Pedro and continued until the 1450s.
A new intervention from 1567 onwards gave the nave the tripartite appearance it currently presents.
The work began with the complete replacement of the main chapel, which now has a rectangular plan with a barrel-vaulted coffered roof.
The two extreme chapels were built in the transept and the current structure is fully Mannerist with formal and round arches.
Work continued during this period with the erudite portico that frames the triumphal arch, the structure that flanks the arch of the South apse (dating from 1589) and the redesign of the naves (until c. 1590).
In the Courts of Évora in 1444, the Ponte de Lima prosecutors declared that the “old Church was so small that we could not fit in” and suggests that the construction of the new temple had already begun.
The financial resources for the new temple were provided by João I of Portugal and the regent D. Pedro and continued until the 1450s.
A new intervention from 1567 onwards gave the nave the tripartite appearance it currently presents.
The work began with the complete replacement of the main chapel, which now has a rectangular plan with a barrel-vaulted coffered roof.
The two extreme chapels were built in the transept and the current structure is fully Mannerist with formal and round arches.
Work continued during this period with the erudite portico that frames the triumphal arch, the structure that flanks the arch of the South apse (dating from 1589) and the redesign of the naves (until c. 1590).
Characteristics of the Ponte de Lima Parish Church
The renovated Matriz de Ponte de Lima occupies a relatively marginal place in the evolution of the Gothic style in Portugal.
The portal has four retractable archivolts and one of them is decorated with semi-spheres (a motif that may well correspond to the 15th century).
The capitals are vegetal with foliage very attached to the sculptural field and elements treated summarily and the radiant rose window is a product of the restoration.
The church attracted the attention of the upper classes of local society who sought to establish their last home.
In the year 1540, the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição was located in the extreme southwest, with a quadrangular space covered by a polyveined vault that houses the tombs of D. Inês Pinto and her husband, both in a shallow grave.
The great transformation of the interior took place from 1567 onwards, with a master Luís from the city of Porto at the head of the Mannerist campaign.
The work began with the complete replacement of the main chapel, which remained rectangular in shape with a coffered barrel vault roof.
In the transept, the two extreme chapels were also built and the doubt remains as to whether, only then, the body would have been expanded to the current three naves.
The current structure is fully Mannerist with formal arches and a perfect round, leaving no traces of the presumed previous late-Gothic organization.
In the second half of the 16th century with the erudite portico that framed the triumphal arch as a structure flanking the arch of the South apse (1589) and the reformulation of the naves (1590).
The 18th century brought carvings that decorate the interior and a large national style altarpiece dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows dating from 1729 stands out.
The crowning of the bell tower was carried out in the second half of the 19th century and the neo-Gothic rose window was created based on the model of the church of São Francisco do Porto.
The portal has four retractable archivolts and one of them is decorated with semi-spheres (a motif that may well correspond to the 15th century).
The capitals are vegetal with foliage very attached to the sculptural field and elements treated summarily and the radiant rose window is a product of the restoration.
The church attracted the attention of the upper classes of local society who sought to establish their last home.
In the year 1540, the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição was located in the extreme southwest, with a quadrangular space covered by a polyveined vault that houses the tombs of D. Inês Pinto and her husband, both in a shallow grave.
The great transformation of the interior took place from 1567 onwards, with a master Luís from the city of Porto at the head of the Mannerist campaign.
The work began with the complete replacement of the main chapel, which remained rectangular in shape with a coffered barrel vault roof.
In the transept, the two extreme chapels were also built and the doubt remains as to whether, only then, the body would have been expanded to the current three naves.
The current structure is fully Mannerist with formal arches and a perfect round, leaving no traces of the presumed previous late-Gothic organization.
In the second half of the 16th century with the erudite portico that framed the triumphal arch as a structure flanking the arch of the South apse (1589) and the reformulation of the naves (1590).
The 18th century brought carvings that decorate the interior and a large national style altarpiece dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows dating from 1729 stands out.
The crowning of the bell tower was carried out in the second half of the 19th century and the neo-Gothic rose window was created based on the model of the church of São Francisco do Porto.
Classification of the Ponte de Lima Parish Church
The Ponte de Lima Parish Church was classified in 2013 as a Monument of Public Interest.
