Viana do Castelo Cathedral
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The Roman Catholic cathedral of Viana do Castelo ( Sé Catedral de Santa Maria Maior in Portuguese ), consecrated to the Virgin Mary , is the episcopal church of the diocese of Viana do Castelo in the northern Portuguese coastal town of Viana do Castelo .
location
The cathedral is located in the center of the old town of Viana do Castelo, approx. 75 km north of Porto , approx. 250 m north of the mouth of the Río Lima in the Atlantic Ocean approx. 1 km away at a height of almost 15 m .
history
Despite its Romanesque - early Gothic appearance, the church was not built until the 15th and 16th centuries. Century; Until the 19th century the interior was rebuilt repeatedly, so that today it is a mixture between baroque and classicism . It wasn't until 1977 that Pope Paul VI created. through the Apostolic Constitution Ad aptiorem the diocese of Viana do Castelo.
architecture
The west facade of the church, built from granite on the outside , presents itself in a transitional style from Romanesque to Gothic, which was already outdated in most parts of Europe. The portal wall with its set figures is downgraded three times; the archivolt arches are slightly pointed. The almost windowless side bell towers appear almost monolithic ; they each end in a battlement with a battlement .
The with cross-house provided dreischiffige interior is in marked contrast to: Classical Baroque pillars , vaulted and altars in the side bands create a completely different image space.
Furnishing
The church is richly decorated: two wooden sermon pulpits rest on stone plinths, two baptismal fonts from the 16th and 17th centuries. Century and a baroque organ grandstand give the whole thing a splendid appearance.
See also
Web links
- Viana do Castelo Cathedral - Photos + Info (monument, Portuguese)
Coordinates: 41 ° 41 ′ 36 " N , 8 ° 49 ′ 37.5" W.