Évora Cathedral
The Cathedral of Évora or the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption ( Portuguese Basílica Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Assunção ) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the historic center of Évora in Portugal , which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and forms one of the most important monuments in the city. It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Évora with the title of a minor basilica .
history
The city of Évora was conquered by the Christian armies in the Reconquista under Geraldo sem Pavor in 1166 . The construction of a cathedral began as early as 1186. The consecration took place in 1204. The construction of the church is characterized by the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic style. The massive construction is typically Romanesque, and the tracery above the main portal is typically Gothic. The Gothic style cloister was added between 1317 and 1340. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the choir , pulpit, baptistery and chapel of the Madonna of Mercy, also called Esporão, in the Manueline style . The main chapel, built in the first half of the 18th century, shows the typical characteristics of the Baroque style . 1929 received the cathedral by Pope Pius XI. additionally the title of a minor basilica .
architecture
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The main facade of the cathedral, covered in pink granite, shows influences from the Lisbon Cathedral as well as some Spanish cathedrals such as Salamanca and Zamora . The portal with its octagonal arch and six archivolts is remarkable . These are adorned with a series of marble sculptures depicting the apostles, created around 1330. Next to the facade rise two asymmetrical towers, both built in the Middle Ages and completed in the 16th century. Above the narthex a large window opens with Gothic tracery, a large rose window is located in a transept. Like other Portuguese churches of the time, the outer walls are crenellated and arcaded with consoles. The crossing tower has a window gallery in the tambour and ends with a point. The flat roof is accessible to visitors.
The 70 meter long church with the shape of a basilica has the floor plan of a cruciform church . The seven-bay nave has two lower aisles. The existing choir on the west side was rebuilt in 1718 by the Regensburg architect Johann Friedrich Ludwig , who was trained in Italy, and decorated with lots of marble. The furnishings with the opulent paintings by Agostino Masucci and the sculptures by Antonio Bellini reinforce the contrast to the rather simple granite blocks in the nave. In the left transept is the Esperao Chapel from 1527, roofed with a very beautiful star vault.
Cloister
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The cathedral's cloister was built between 1317 and 1340 in the Gothic style and also shows the influence of the cloister of the Lisbon Cathedral. The use of granite on the outside gives it a heavy and compact appearance, despite the oculi , which are decorated with geometric tracery ornaments that in turn open over the arches of the courtyard and are typical of the late Gothic period.
The Capela do Fundador, the burial chapel of Bishop Don Pedro, founder of the monastery, shows his tomb in the middle of the chapel with the reclining figure of the bishop and a statue of the Archangel Gabriel and another, polychrome statue of the Virgin Mary. The upper floor of the cloister, accessible via a spiral staircase, offers a wonderful view of the cathedral and the surrounding landscape.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Sé Catedral de Santa Maria da Assunção on gcatholic.org
- ↑ Catedral de Évora on monumentos.pt (port.)
- ↑ Évora - catedral on algarve-reisen.com
Coordinates: 38 ° 34 ′ 18 ″ N , 7 ° 54 ′ 24 ″ W.