Church of Porto Covo

Church of Porto Covo
Church of Our Lady of Solitude
Igreja de Porto Covo
The austere facade of the Baroque-style parochial church of Porto Covo
37°51′5.05″N8°47′29.71″W / 37.8514028°N 8.7915861°W / 37.8514028; -8.7915861
Location	Setúbal, Alentejo Litoral, Alentejo
Country	Portugal
History
Dedication	Porto Covo
Architecture
Architect(s)	Joaquim Guilherme d'Oliveira
Style	Baroque, Neoclassic
Specifications
Length	14.90 m (48.9 ft)
Width	12.72 m (41.7 ft)

The Church of Porto Covo (Portuguese : Igreja de Porto Covo) is Baroque and Neoclassic church in the civil parish, municipality of Sines, in the Atlantic coast of the Portuguese Alentejo. The church's austere lines is a morphological hybridization of the styles employed during the reign of Queen Maria I. ^[1] In the widespread typology of regional architecture, the Baroque elements are evident in the lintels and trim curves, framed in a composition that is, generally, more rigid then in the gable design. ^{[1] [2]}

History

Around the end of the 18th century, the church was constructed within the remodelling of the Largo Marquês de Pombal by Joaquim Guilherme d'Oliveira. ^{[1] [2]}

Architecture

The church is a rare example, important for the group details and composition, including pinnacles and triumphal arch, different from the vernacular characteristics of other temples of the same size in the region. ^[2]

The church is located in the centre of a large square (Largo Marquês de Pombal), aligned with trees and a central garden. It has a longitudinal plan, formed of a nave and a narrower presbytery, with lateral sacristy and tiled articulated spaces. ^[2] The principal facade is oriented towards the north, defined by accented corners, a finial gable crowned by a cross (resting on a plinth in masonry) and stone urns on plinths crowning the corners. ^{[1] [2]} The church portal is an arched frame, surmounted by a big window with ornate semi-circular frame. ^[2] The lateral facades are simple with no doorways or windows.

Interior

The unique nave is covered in wood with three plans, with a lower footer in blue and white azulejo tile. ^[2] Within this space, framed by the same portal and window, to the right, is a basin for holy water, while a triumphal arch framed in stonework, with pilasters and single step. ^[2]

The presbytery is covered with vaulted-ceiling, with cornice, while the main altar is preceded by two steps and framed within a gilded retable. ^[2] A central rounded niche is flanked by pilasters with volutes and upper architecture in multiple lobes, framed by a medallion with the monogram AM circled by glint and urns. ^{[1] [2]} On either side are corbels and false niches gilded and painted. On the left wall is a doorway to the sacristy. ^[2]

The church is constructed of stone masonry and mortar primarily, plastered and whitewashed, with the portal and secondary elements in stone. ^[2] In addition, the elements of the church include tile covering of straw, wood-lined ceilings with dome plastered and whitewashed, tiled floors, wooden window frames, gilded altarpiece and polychromatic tiles. ^[2]

References

Notes

1. Câmara Municipal, ed. (2010), Igreja de Porto Covo (in Portuguese), Sines, Portugal: Câmara Municipal de Sines, archived from the original on 14 November 2013, retrieved 9 May 2012
2. Falcão, José; Pereira, Ricardo (1999), SIPA (ed.), Igreja de Porto Covo (v. PT041513020014) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, archived from the original on 5 March 2016, retrieved 9 May 2012