Angra do Heroísmo Cathedral

Inside of the cathedral

The cathedral of Angra do Heroísmo ( Portuguese Sé de Angra do Heroísmo ) on the Azores island of Terceira , dedicated to Christ the Savior ( Portuguese São Salvador ), is the seat of the diocese of Angra .

location

The cathedral is located in the center of the old town of Angra only about 250 m north of the harbor at a height of about 15 m .

history

Since the year 1427, the long-known but not colonized group of islands of the Azores officially belonged to the Kingdom of Portugal . A Chapel of the Redeemer had already been founded in 1426, but in 1534 Pope Paul III appointed. at the instigation of the Portuguese King Joao III. the Azores to the diocese. However, the laying of the foundation stone for the construction of a new cathedral dragged on until 1570; the construction was only completed in 1618. In the following period several chapels were added. In 1980 the cathedral was badly damaged in an earthquake and then extensively restored.

architecture

The portal zone of the cathedral shows a three-arched triumphal arch motif . While the two side bell towers (torres sinieras) rise in a straight line and end in pointed helmets with a zigzag pattern , the later added central gable shows side volutes that refer to the Baroque .

The approximately 10–12 m high interior of the cathedral has three aisles ; there are also several side chapels . All three naves are not arched; the central nave is spanned by a wooden coffered ceiling, the side aisles have flat ceilings. The apse is semicircular, but on the outside it is encased in a rectangular shape.

Furnishing

Among the equipment is considered to be mentioned: a silver frontal at the altar , a four-sided rotatable lectern with ivory - inlaid , one of a light brown marble block sculptured baptismal font , a Ming vase and one from Brazilian jacaranda manufactured -Holz wider drawer cabinet for ecclesiastical robes.