It is located near the castle of Leiria, in Largo de São Pedro, City and District of Leiria, in Central Portugal
History of the Church of São Pedro in Leiria
The Church of Saint Peter began to be built in the last years of the 12th century and the work was completed in the first decades of the 13th century.
The Church of São Pedro is mentioned for the first time in documents from 1200 related to a dispute between the bishop of Coimbra and the Monastery of Santa Cruz over ecclesiastical dominance of the city.
Leiria was designated the seat of a bishopric in 1545, and for a short period of time the church of São Pedro served as the city's cathedral until the completion of the current Cathedral of Leiria in 1574.
The temple served as a parish church and underwent some renovations in the 17th and 18th centuries and in the 19th century it was used as a theater, barn and even a prison.
The Church of São Pedro is mentioned for the first time in documents from 1200 related to a dispute between the bishop of Coimbra and the Monastery of Santa Cruz over ecclesiastical dominance of the city.
Leiria was designated the seat of a bishopric in 1545, and for a short period of time the church of São Pedro served as the city's cathedral until the completion of the current Cathedral of Leiria in 1574.
The temple served as a parish church and underwent some renovations in the 17th and 18th centuries and in the 19th century it was used as a theater, barn and even a prison.
Characteristics of the Church of São Pedro in Leiria
The Church of São Pedro, in Romanesque style, was built in limestone and masonry between the 12th and 13th centuries and is the only one of Leiria's Romanesque churches that still exists.
Despite some changes and the wear and tear it has suffered over time, the church still has the original Romanesque façade and apse (arch).
The church of São Pedro generally shows influences from the Romanesque art of Coimbra and Lisbon, especially the former.
The main facade has a limestone portal inserted into a projecting body (alfiz) typical of many medieval Portuguese churches.
The cornice in the upper part of the projecting body has a series of modillions with animal figures, as in several churches in Coimbra.
The main portal has several perfect round archivolts, the outermost part of the portal is decorated with a vegetal frieze and the archivolts of the portal have small sculptural figures resting on the archivolts where only hands, torsos and heads are visible.
The figures are already very eroded but reveal that they were created by a very competent sculptor and may represent sinners seeking to reach the heavenly part of the sculptural ensemble, in this case the tympanum that was unfortunately lost.
The type of decoration is uncommon in Portugal but used in Anglo-Norman art, revealing the influence of British communities established in the region after the Conquest of Lisbon in 1147. The interior has undergone many renovations over time, but is simple and sober.
The apse has a chancel and two apses all covered by vaults, the tripartite apse and the nave is unique, which is very unusual in Portugal.
The sculptural decoration of the chapels' capitals indicates the influence of Coimbra, but some also show influence from Lisbon.
Despite some changes and the wear and tear it has suffered over time, the church still has the original Romanesque façade and apse (arch).
The church of São Pedro generally shows influences from the Romanesque art of Coimbra and Lisbon, especially the former.
The main facade has a limestone portal inserted into a projecting body (alfiz) typical of many medieval Portuguese churches.
The cornice in the upper part of the projecting body has a series of modillions with animal figures, as in several churches in Coimbra.
The main portal has several perfect round archivolts, the outermost part of the portal is decorated with a vegetal frieze and the archivolts of the portal have small sculptural figures resting on the archivolts where only hands, torsos and heads are visible.
The figures are already very eroded but reveal that they were created by a very competent sculptor and may represent sinners seeking to reach the heavenly part of the sculptural ensemble, in this case the tympanum that was unfortunately lost.
The type of decoration is uncommon in Portugal but used in Anglo-Norman art, revealing the influence of British communities established in the region after the Conquest of Lisbon in 1147. The interior has undergone many renovations over time, but is simple and sober.
The apse has a chancel and two apses all covered by vaults, the tripartite apse and the nave is unique, which is very unusual in Portugal.
The sculptural decoration of the chapels' capitals indicates the influence of Coimbra, but some also show influence from Lisbon.
Classification of the Church of São Pedro in Leiria
In 1910, the Church of São Pedro was designated a National Monument and in 1933 restored by the General Directorate of National Buildings and Monuments.
