Bravães - Igreja de São Salvador

A Benedictine convent existed here since ~ 1080. End of the 12th century the monastery got imncorporated into a commandry of the Knights Templar, whom the monks had to pay for protection. Later Augustin Canons lived here until the convent got dissolved and the church converted into a parish church in 1434.

The "Igreja de São Salvador", erected within the 12th century, is small, but has wonderful and very unique carvings.

To the very left is one of the animal heads, that supports the lintel. The inner archivolts have geometric patterns, followed by human male and female figures (one holds a walking stick), the monkeys (Manuel L. Real claims "Barbary macaques") - and birds.