|
Parish of Conceição de Tavira Parish of Luz de Tavira County Parish of Santo Estêvão Parish of Cachopo Parish of Cabanas Parish of Santa Luzia Parish of Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo Parish of Tavira City - Santiago and Santa Maria
Parish of Conceição de Tavira  Main Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição
This church was created on the first quarter of the 16th century following to the parish's creation. Its dowry was given by the Saint James Order, raised at the resident's alms expenses. It displays a splendid Sixteen century main porch, composed by a broken arch with five archivolts and enrolled in an alfiz (architectonic ornament), being the last archivolt decorated with interesting late-Gothic representations of branches, foliage, flowers, frowns, biting dragons, etc. The interior is composed by three naves of only three schemes, standing out the capitols and columns´ bases decorated on the inside with the renaissance classic language, which made school in Tavira in extent of the famous master's bricklayer André Pilarte. The main chapel is covered by a sixteen century vault edge, from which bolts show the Saint James Order´ symbol. The temple went under work in the mid-sixteen century, therefore gaining a Baroque front which animates the main façade, framing the dynamic Saint James Order Arms, molded with baroque forms in mass.
Parish of Luz de Tavira
 Main Church of Nossa Senhora da Luz
The construction of this church was possible by the city's elevation to county's centre on the first decades of the 16th century, funded by inhabitant's alms, which counted with many noblemen. The works of the building, initiate in manuelino style, hauled through several decades, its last intervention was the main porch, in 1570 by an Algarvian bricklayer who was converted to the "mannerist" format. The temple acquired notoriety because it was the only Algarvian example of church-showroom (or hallenkirchen). It displays a longitudinal plant with three naves at the same level, of four schemes and main chapel. Besides the mannerist main porch or the ingenious nave enclosing system, the south portal is highlighted, which is done in manuelino style, being this one of the most interesting in the Algarvian region. It is attributed, as is the church, to Andre Pilarte, bricklayer master who studied in the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon. In its interiors, one can find an interesting collection composed by paints, sculptures and woodwork from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.  Hermitage of Nossa Senhora do Livramento (located at 3Km of Luz de Tavira)
It was built in 1708 accordingly to the unscripted tombstone in the main facade, ordered by the Priest Manuel Viegas Leal. The As Memórias Paroquiais - Parochial Memoirs - of 1758 are located in a land which belongs to a farm called Quinta Ângela Clara, land of the influential Priest Doctor Henrique Leal Nunes da Gama Ataíde, nephew of the referred Priest Manuel Leal and Commissary of Santo Ofício. It is a temple of small dimensions, with a nave covered by cradle vault and a shallow main chapel. The facade presents a porch introduced in the 19th century, being finished off by a curved front sided with two rooms. The main retable must be highlighted, as a unique copy made of marble from Algarve, requested in the mid-eighteen century by the Priest Henrique Gama de Ataíde to Diogo Tavares de Ataíde, the most famous stonemason master of the time.
Parish of Santo Estêvão (Saint Stephan) Main Church of Santo Estêvão This church came from a small late-medieval chapel part of Santiago of the Parish of Tavira. The village of São Estêvão was elevated to county's centre in the 16th century; the temple functioned as a gathering place for people who essentially lived sparsely throughout the county. The church went under important works in the 18th century, which altered its original characteristics. The reconstruction begun in 1707, ordered by the Bishop D. António Pereira da Silva, and has stopped after his death. In the 19th it was remodeled, probably in 1846 and the main porch was reconstructed in 1903. In the interior, the church is composed by only one nave, with four lateral chapels and a main chapel that communicates with the sacristy on the Epistle side. The main retable, which characters are attributed to the Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri, extends itself through a painted mural giving it a fake retable aspect.
Parish of Cachopo
 Main Church (Cachopo) of Santo Estêvão
The first news on this church arrived to us through the visitation act executed in 1535 by the Saint James Order, to which the sponsorship of this temple belonged. In this year the hermitage of Saint Stephan of Cachopo valley is described as hua house of hua alone nave with its osya and the stone and mud walls... The temple was funded by the inhabitants and its Chaplin was the Algarve's bishop. In the 50s of the 20th century, in a work campaign which erased its primitive architectonic structure, the temple suffered great changes building, on its place, the building we see today. Remodeled in 2006 and 2007, reopened on the 15th August of last year, in a ceremony, hosted by the Algarvian bishop Manuel Neto Quintas.
Parish of Cabanas  Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Mar
It was inaugurated in 1994, receiving a patron image funded by the townspeople. Fourteen years later the building was entirely rebuilt and expanded with contemporary lines designed by the architect Teresa Correia. It received the Algarvian bishop D. Manuel Neto Quintas blessings ion the 24th June 2008.
Parish of Santa Luzia Main Church of Santa Luzia It was built in the mid 20th century upon the sixteen century old hermitage by the architect Manuel Gomes da Costa, one of the most prominent names among Algarve's modern architecture. It was inaugurated in 1958, distinguished as a model for religious contemporary architecture in Tavira, marked by the post war characteristic modern movement
Parish of Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo
 Main Church of Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo
It was initiated during the first half of the 16th century following the Fonte do Bispo to County's centre. In the exterior of the main chapel, two cylindrical buttresses subsist crowned by conic identical spire from several late-Gothic temples in the Alentejo. The interior follows an identical outline applied by the bricklayer master André Pilarte in the Misericórdia de Tavira, consisting of a longitudinal plant temple with three naves and four schemes delimited by arches upon renaissance columns. In the main chapel one can admire forms in the manuelino style inserted in the frames and spaces of the multi-layered vault. The porch of the main façade is highlighted, of shape and composition identical to Misericordia de Tavira´s lateral portal. Its decoration is above all, linked to Santa Catarina and its decorative renaissance motifs. The end of the main façade's finishing is made of dynamic baroque forms denouncing the works done in the 18th century.
Parishes of Tavira City - Santiago and Santa Maria Counties  Church of Misericórdia
It is considered the most notable renaissance construction in the Algarve. Its author, the bricklayer master André Pilarte, built it between 1541 and 1551, after having worked in the construction of the Jerónimos Monastery, in Lisbon. The prevalence of the renaissance is well defined in the composition and decoration of the main porch, on a perfect round arch, prodigally decorated by recorded Italian motifs. And it is finished by a splendid sculpture package that integrates the image of Our Lady of Mercy, to the centre, surrounded by the images of Saint Peter and Saint Paul and, by the Kingdom and city's Arms. Also, in the temple, a new consistency revealed in the three nave's interiors of four schemes, highlighting an attitude - not fully rendered - of space unification in a manner of churches-showrooms of its time, accenting the capitol renaissance decoration. From the Baroque period we find a magnificent main retable, dated from 1722, by a famous woodcarver from Tavira, Manuel Abreu do Ó. Eighteen blue and white painted tiles, dating from 1760 were placed into the inside walls of this temple, made by the shop of a master in Lisbon. It displays scenes of spiritual and flesh mercy and steps from the life of Christ, missing a few passages nowadays. As far as paintings go, there is the processional flag set, dated from the 17th century paint of our Lady of Conception located in the nave (Gospels´ side), and recently attributed to the Italian Giovanni Odazzi (1663 - 1731). Main Church of Santa Maria do Castelo Built in the 13th century, above the old mosque from the Muslim occupation, it is a temple of three naves of different heights which still preserve Gothic traces. The church was ruined by the 1755 earthquake, having been rebuilt by the Algarvian Bishop, D. Francisco Gomes of Avelar, according to a neoclassic project by the Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri. The great merit of the intervention was the harmonious articulation among the modern project of classicist flavour with what remained from the primitive church, resulting in an assumed and peculiar electric church. The architect rebuilt the temple with three naves and four schemes. The headboard and some lateral chapels were reused, giving way to important testimonies of the primitive temple. Also the old Gothic portal stayed, being integrated in the new neoclassic logic of the main façade. From the 16th century, the Senhor dos Passos lateral chapel remains, built in the 20s, covered by a multi-layered ceiling of great architectonic and ornamental effect, serving as a good example of the manuelino style. Here the children of King João I, after the triumphant conquest of Ceuta, in 1415 were knighted. Also, to mark presence, in the main chapel, two engraved scriptures rendered to the heroes and martyr's graves versed in the famous episode of the conquest of Tavira from the Moors. Inside the church, besides some retables cut in the Baroque and rococo style of the period, several examples of tiles, painting and religious imagin ation stand out. Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Consolação It is a simple temple of only one nave and undecorated façade, erected in the first half of the 17th century facing the city's old prison. According to the tradition, it was the chapel where the convicts spent their last hours. It possesses a valuable sixteen century retable with Marian themed paintings by the painter from Tavira, João Rodrigues Andino. 
Church of São José do Hospital
Originated from the 15th century, this temple which belongs to the Hospital Real do Espírito Santo was reconstructed in 1752, along with the hospital installations, ordered by the monarch King João V, and, under the responsibility of the master Diogo Tavares de Ataíde. As a particularity, the church displays an octagonal plant of uneven sides, giving a sort of baroque dynamism to the temple's interiors. Furthermore it integrates in a typology rare in the Algarve, modeled after the Lisbon's church Menino Deus (1712). The 1755 earthquake affected the rebuilt process, prolonging it to 1768, according to an inscription on the temple's façade. From the primitive temple, a late-medieval chapel still remains, with a multi-layered ceiling decorated with the Melos and Costa's´ Arms. As far as the interior decoration goes, the main chapel's retable stands out (example of the paint "trompe l' oeil") and four retables are placed inside of the church's nave: two on outer side from the rococo period and two sided ones from the neoclassic period. Old Convent and Church of São Francisco The origins of this old convent go back to the end of the 13th century or beginnings of the 15th century, having been owned by the Templar Order until 1312. When this Order ceased, King Dinis donated its facilities to Saint Francis Order. Nowadays it is a complex building due to the interventions suffered through out history. It was the target of several catastrophes: in 1755 by the earthquake; in 1843 a landslide; and in 1881 by fire. Some interesting medieval vestiges and a cemetery still remain. The actual sacristy stands out, with its six sided ceiling by out coming layers from one same centre and capitol gothic accents with vegetal ornaments, reflecting the Batalha art (15th century) influence. In the garden connected to the temple, two gothic chapels which were part of the old cluster still remain, highlighting the warhead crossed ceiling with accented decorated capitols in a vegetal manner.    Old Convent of Nossa Senhora da Graça Founded in 1542, in the place of the old court house of the city of Tavira, this convent was only initiated in 1569. The works hauled for many years, meeting the shipyard still active in 1598. From the architectonic program, projected and initiated in the 16th century, little was left to our days due to constant transformation. However, it is right to say that it was a pioneer work in the sober and unornamented "ground style" in the Algarve, signing in the area the passage to another constructive era. In the 40s of the 17th century, the religious officers in the convent decided to have it under work, which would possibly meant ruin. Diogo Tavares de Ataíde, the most famous architect in the 17th in Algarve studied the project  and began to work in 1749. Following these changes, the old convent's cluster was restored keeping its fifteen century characteristics in the first floor, formed by classical arches with Tuscan columns upon the pedestal. After ten years the friars started a new campaign in order to have the building under work again, this time for the construction o a new dormitory which now corresponds to the big baroque façade in the building. To the construction process, D.Diogo Tavares de Ataíde again interfered, materializing a project from the Grace Friars in Lisbon. With the religious Orders´ extinction in 1834, the convent was handed to the army, functioning as barracks. More recently, the building was acquired by the Town Hall and given to ENATUR - Portugal's Lodging Network. As a form of conservation of the region's historic heritage and to create a new hotel unit, on June 24th of 2006 surged the Pousada Convento da Graça.
Old Convent of Nossa Senhora da Piedade or Bernardas
It was founded in 1509 by King Manuel I, in Thanks Given by the freedom from the Moors Arzila, old Portuguese possession in North of Africa. Its construction was prolonged up to 1528 in the manuelino style. Initially destined to the Clarisse nuns, it was given by King João III to the Bishop of Silves, Fernando Coutinho, in 1530, which established the São Bento´s rule according to the Cister´s observance. It had a squared plant, it had two clusters and a big church dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy. With the extinction of the religious Orders, the building due to being the biggest convent in Algarve, lodged the nuns from Lagos, Loulé and Faro. After its extinction in 1862 - death date of the last nun - it was sold in public auction, have been adapted to a grinding factory which completely de-characterized it. From its monumental profile, the main door from the old church in the manuelino style stands out. 
Church of the Old Convent of Santo António dos Capuchos The convent started to be built in 1612, for the capuche friars, close to the old and gone small hermitage of Esperança. The church then erected possessed a simple and exemplary rectangular plant from the sixteen century "chã" architecture. The main façade was remodeled during the second half of the 18th century; have the main façade having been rebuilt during the second half of the 17th century, reconstructing the front and window above the galley. It has interesting works inside its interiors, namely, a notable sixteen century sculpture kit, representing the life of Saint Anthony. Belonging to the old convent, the great solemn cluster with three arches in band rested on squared pillars stands out.
Hermitage of São Sebastian (Saint Sebastian)
Small rebuilt temple in 1745, of longitudinal plant composed by the nave rectangles, main chapel and sacristy. It was administered by the São Sebastião's brotherhood, whose members belonged to the Camera of Tavira. The interior displays an interesting ornamentation composed by painted wood in "trompe l'oeil", covering and framing the walls sixteen paintings set from the 18th century evoking Virgin Mary's and martyr São Sebastião´s lives. 
Church of Nossa Senhora das Ondas
It goes back to the first half of the 16th century, having been ordered by the Compromisso Marítmo. Diogo Tavares of Ataíde, the most prestigious stonemason master of the 18th century took charge of the reconstruction in 1756, after the earthquake. From this campaign the old fifteen century main chapel, in which is salient the triumph arch with an interesting ornament from the renaissance, was salvaged. 
Old Convent and Church of São Paulo or Nossa Senhora da Ajuda The old convent of friars' hermits of São Paulo was founded in 1606. Its church was raised inside of the values of "ground style" and it displays a plant of Latin cross, composed by the volumes of the main chapel, transept and a single nave. After the extinction of the religious Orders, the convent was sold in a public auction and the temple given to the brotherhood of Our Lady of Help. The interior contains an interesting painting collection, Woodwork and Religion Imagination from 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, partly originating from other city temples and extinct convents. The retable of Our Lady of Carmo stands out, ordered in 1730 by the Third Order of Carmo to the woodcarver Gaspar Martins. Hermitage of Santa Ana It is one of the oldest temples of Tavira, of medieval origin. Its sponsorship belonged to the Saint James´ Order. It received works during the first half of the 18th century, have been later adapted to the chapel of the Governor and General Captain's Palace, after being transferred to Tavira in 1756.
Hermitage of São Brás
Formerly located outside of the city, this small medieval temple was originally administered by the São Brás' brotherhood. The small chapel possesses only one nave and main chapel, having annexed hermitage's house. A great work campaign which took place in the second half of the 18th century attributed it new forms, especially in the main façade, highlighting the portal and window with expressive quarry frames from the rococo period.
Carmelite Old Convent and Church of the Third Order of Nossa Senhora do Carmo  The year of 1747 marks the construction's beginning of the construction of the church of the Order Third of Carmo in a land close to the recently-founded Carmelite convent in Tavira. This year, when the convent already was under construction, the place of the Order Third church was delimited. The work was prolonged for many years, up to 1789, adopting a plant of Latin cross, a not so frequent typology in that area. The interior ornamentation of some chapels began in the 70s, however, in the main chapel, the most extraordinary manifestation of the Rococo in Algarve, the woodwork only started in 1780, and the gold, in 1784. The painting of illusionist perspective of the main chapel's ceiling, of probable authorship of José Ferreira of Rocha, deserves special reference with a representation of Our Lady of Carmo giving the scapular to Saint Simon Stock.
In spite of the generosity of the third siblings to the Carmelite convent that was built near their church, its construction hauled for several years. Only in 1792, the façade of the convent temple was finished, as it states the date engraved on the main portal. Part of the convent installations was adapted to a Third Order Cemetery due to the delay in the work and extinction of the religious orders.
Main Church of Santiago Its origins go back to the second half of the 13th century. In 1270, King D. Afonso III donated the sponsorship of this church to the Bishop and to the Cabido de Silves. In the 18th It was rebuilt following the 1755 earthquake. The interior presents several retables in woodwork, images and sacred paintings, some coming of other temples of the city.
 |
Updated: 2009-07-17 14:39:57  Top |
|
