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.

Here are three pillars of the left side of the portal. Following Manuel L. Real ("Portugal Roman", Edition Zodiaque), who claims, that Igreja de São Salvador is one of the most beautiful Romanesque "village churches", in Portugal, the left pillar depicts Barbary macaques, the center depcts a nun (veil) - and to the right a braiding of snakes ending in three heads.