Románico Atlántico
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Igreja de Santa Maria

Covas do Barroso - Vila-Real

The church dates back to the 13th Century and has been modified drastically.  It is a single nave church with a rectangular East end with two annexing quadrangular chapels.  The main facade is from Modern times, extending the church towards the West, with a triangular gable finished off by a cross. On the rear facade, there is an impressive window ornamented with Romanesque sculptures that illuminates the main chancel.  The church is encircled by a portico that possesses a bell tower.
In the interior, the nave is whitewashed, highlighting the granite moulding around the windows, the baptismal font and the fonts for the holy water.  The pavement of the nave is composed of lids from the sepulchers elaborated from granite.  The roof is made of wood including the balusters of the choir above the main doorway and pulpit.  On the Epistle Side there is an arcosolium with a pointed arch containing a sepulcher with a sculpture of the deceased.   The oldest mural paintings in the church are found on the eaves board. They are organized in four registers that represent the Apostles, Saint John the Baptist, the Nativity, and the Assumption of the Virgin.  There are also paintings distributed throughout the nave all sharing the theme of Mary.

Covas do Barroso

Location

Románico Atlántico
Junta de Castilla y LeónFundación Iberdrola EspañaGoverno de PortugalFundación Santa María la Real del patrimonio históricoDiócesis de SalamancaDiócesis de ZamoraDiócesis  de AstorgaDiócesis de Ciudad Rodrigo