Church of Saint Mary of Barrô

Resende
Description

Built half way on the slope, on the left bank of the Douro, the Church of Barrô, consecrated to Saint Mary, is a late Romanesque building, perhaps founded in the 12th century. The family of Egas Moniz, the schoolmaster and governor of king Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, is credited with its endowment and hypothetical construction or reconstruction, because there are suspicions of a previous temple having stood on this very site.
Without being able to pinpoint a timeline, the edification of the Church lingered in time, because, despite its Romanesque nature, it already shows proto-Gothic elements: the big window, the rosette and the art of the capitals of a plant-related and floral nature. The symmetrical façade is already marked by the simplicity of the Gothic, only unbalanced by the bell tower, built in the 19th century.
This prefiguring is also perceivable inside through the verticality of the space. Inside, the capitals of the triumphal arch depicting hunting scenes, perhaps an allegory of the struggles between good and evil, are also noteworthy.
From the Baroque period, when Barrô was already an important commendation of the order of Malta, the “Johannine style” altarpiece [main altar] stands out. The Virgin of the Assumption, which replaced the medieval invocation to Saint Mary, is also an excellent example of Baroque sculpture.

 

 






Location: Resende
Quinta de Casal Mato

Quinta de Casal Mato

A house of the 18 th century with 6 bedrooms with bathrooms and set on a farm with vineyards,...
More info
Restaurant Emigrante

Restaurant Emigrante

This is a restaurant that has since many years marked the gastronomic tradition in the...
More info
Restaurant Cacho D´Oiro

Restaurant Cacho D´Oiro

This is one of Régua's reference restaurants for its regional cuisine and diversified menu (with...
More info
Comments There are no comments from our visitors. Be the first to comment.
Evaluate: Make your evaluation