Igreja de Santa Maria (St. Maria Church), Sintra
After Afonso Henriques conquered Sintra in the 12th century, liberating the area from Moorish domination, he set about creating church parishes. The first church was the church of Santa Maria. It was a small church on the outskirts of town. In 1254 the town had grown and prior Lourenco Anes established Santa Maria as a collegiate church.
By the 14th century the church had been completely redone in the Gothic style. In the 16th century the high choir was built, the Gothic portals were changed, and the ceiling redone in wood with the coat of arms of the Queen. The altars were fitted with Hispano-Arabic tiles. The collegiate church was dissolved in 1640.
The style of the church today follows the Mendicant Gothic fashion of Medieval churches. It has three naves, the central nave is higher than the side naves. The naves are separated by arcades of broken arches. The two-bay chancel has a polygonal top and cross vault. The main facade has a broken arch with archivolts within a gable.
Over the front portal there is a Baroque window. The side portals of the exterior are Gothic with buttresses and decorated corbels. The main portal on the south side has canopy arches separated by a thin mullion. Renovations of the 1930s sought to preserve the church's initial "purity."
By the 14th century the church had been completely redone in the Gothic style. In the 16th century the high choir was built, the Gothic portals were changed, and the ceiling redone in wood with the coat of arms of the Queen. The altars were fitted with Hispano-Arabic tiles. The collegiate church was dissolved in 1640.
The style of the church today follows the Mendicant Gothic fashion of Medieval churches. It has three naves, the central nave is higher than the side naves. The naves are separated by arcades of broken arches. The two-bay chancel has a polygonal top and cross vault. The main facade has a broken arch with archivolts within a gable.
Over the front portal there is a Baroque window. The side portals of the exterior are Gothic with buttresses and decorated corbels. The main portal on the south side has canopy arches separated by a thin mullion. Renovations of the 1930s sought to preserve the church's initial "purity."
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Igreja de Santa Maria (St. Maria Church) on Map
Sight Name: Igreja de Santa Maria (St. Maria Church)
Sight Location: Sintra, Portugal (See walking tours in Sintra)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Sintra, Portugal (See walking tours in Sintra)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Sintra, Portugal
Create Your Own Walk in Sintra
Creating your own self-guided walk in Sintra is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Pena Palace and Moorish Castle Tour
A charming little township on the outskirts of Lisbon, Sintra is a place where there's something for everyone. As if straight out of a fairy tale, this area is a home to several magnificent castles, palaces and gardens, the grandiosity of which fits for a king; and it has been a firm favorite of Portuguese royals since the late 15th century.
The diversity of styles found here is rich 鈥�... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
The diversity of styles found here is rich 鈥�... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Sintra Introduction Walking Tour
Traces of humanity in Sintra date back to Paleolithic times. At an open air site near the church of Sao Pedro de Canaferrim and the Moorish Castle there were found ceramics from 5,000 BC. The name Sintra is indo-European. It means "bright star" or "sun." Romans called the place "sacred mountain." Ptolemy called it "mountains of the moon."
In 1147 the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
In 1147 the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles