Romanesque Church of Santa Maria do Azinhoso (Mogadouro) (**) - Medieval Jewel in the District of Bragança
May 1, 2011 by Castile
Categories: Municipalities , District-Bragança , artistic styles , churches , More , Mogadouro , Romanesque , All articles
The church of Santa Maria de Azinhoso is one of the most important Romanesque temples Transmontano aware of the Romanesque churches of Adeganha (Bragança) (**) of Algosinho (Mogadouro) (**) as described herein or the magnificent church San Salvador in the castle of Ansiães (**).
In the four churches remains doubt as to the timing of the building.
Our Guide to Portugal (3rd ed., 1995, p.1026), inseparable companion of our travels, he saw the inscription on the bell tower of 1196 and thus could have been built by the Knights Templar because the Order kept the territories of Mogadouro and Feathers Roias (*). The Abbot of Baçal considered doubtful and that the inscription is not now, it is certain that were found recently dug graves in the rock, suggesting a relatively ancient religious occupancy of this site, probably in the X-XI centuries.
Stylistically, the temple because of its pointed arches, but still decorated with Romanesque motifs, have been built between centuries XIII and / or XIV.
The church has Azinhoso monumentality
Its facade, although archaic, is remarkable in size, high and topped by double bell tower and the broad interior, although the nave.
The church contains three portals with Gothic arches. The south door, for example, is elegant, composed of a set of three ornate archivolt by a markedly plastic Romanesque.
Interestingly, the cruciform aperture, in place of the usual opening or ocular rosacea.
At the end of the fourteenth century, D. John went through the village and I have visited and granted various privileges. Here prayed for the same time, D. Nuno Alvares Pereira.
In the fifteenth century, the church of Azinhoso had great regional importance, establishing himself as the true center of pilgrimage. Will date from that time the existing porch on the North side and that, according to the traces on the remaining facades, rodearia entire facade of the temple, connecting the three portals, there are still some columns, corbels and depressions to support the structure.
In the church in the fifteenth century, became a vicar-general to bury Archbishop of Braga, as indicated registration on a rock outside.
The Romanesque church of Azinhoso suffered, as almost always the inevitable changes, when it carried out the sides and altarpieces altarpiece, this is still the seventeenth century, and the building of the House of Mercy (1647), attached to the North side of the chancel.
In mid-twentieth century, before obvious state of disrepair, the church underwent restoration as stated in the title recorded in the blocks of stone on the exterior of the monument.
The Church of spectacular cachorrada Azinhoso
Along the side moldings, similar to what happens next to the church holds the attention of Algosinho a row of carved modillions, include 120 (it did not count), some badly eroded with multiple meanings and cryptic, as was characteristic of Hermetic Romance.
On the one hand and one succeeding the various representations: heads of animals and men in attitudes misshapen, masks, along with reasons surely only recreational or decorative.
As is customary in medieval buildings have stone sigladas beds when made by the construction.
Near the church can also observe the monumental seventeenth-century pillory Azinhoso.
We continue to insist that through the route of the northeastern Romanesque is a wonderful way to experience the beautiful and still archaic district of Bragança.
Acknowledgments: The Remarkable Portugal was housed in the Solar dos Marcos (Bemposta-Mogadouro) and visited the Romanesque church of Azinhoso the invitation of optimal Rural Hotel which supports cultural tourism.
Portugal Guide published by the Calouste Gulbeinken-(3rd ed., 1995, who knows what year the first edition?)
