Portugal

Located on a mountain overlooking the town of Santo Tirso is the Basílica de Nossa Senhora da Assunção, built in Neo-Romanesque style in the early 1920s.

The church was part of a monastery, that in 1258 was owned by "milites et divitum homini" - Knights Templar. Later a convent Augustine Canons existed, before the Archbishop of Porto took over. The convent´s building were destroyed after the Revolution in the 19th century, when the church became a parish church. The church was erected end of the 13th century but got changed later a couple of times. The church once had a narthex, that is still visible.

The church was part of a monastery, that in 1258 was owned by "milites et divitum homini" - Knights Templar. Later a convent Augustine Canons existed, before the Archbishop of Porto took over. The convent´s building were destroyed after the Revolution in the 19th century, when the church became a parish church. The church was erected end of the 13th century but got changed later a couple of times. The church once had a narthex, the remains are still visible. The tympanum got lost over the centuries, but the archivolts are really impressing. And the flanking capitals as well.

The church was part of a monastery, that in 1258 was owned by "milites et divitum homini" - Knights Templar. Later a convent Augustine Canons existed, before the Archbishop of Porto took over. The convent´s building were destroyed after the Revolution in the 19th century, when the church became a parish church. The church was erected end of the 13th century but got changed later a couple of times. The church once had a narthex, the remains are still visible. The tympanum got lost over the centuries, but the archivolts are really impressing. And the flanking capitals as well.

The church was part of a monastery, that in 1258 was owned by "milites et divitum homini" - Knights Templar. Later a convent Augustine Canons existed, before the Archbishop of Porto took over. The convent´s building were destroyed after the Revolution in the 19th century, when the church became a parish church. The church was erected end of the 13th century but got changed later a couple of times. The church once had a narthex, the remains are still visible. The tympanum got lost over the centuries, the archivolts and the capitals survived the times.

São Salvador is a parish church today. Erected in the 13th century it was the church of the adjoining Benedictine monastery, founded mid 11th century. The church dates back to the late 12th/ early 13th century. Graf, Mattoso, and Real, authors of "Portugal Roman", connect the founding of the monastery to the descendents of Munio Viegas o Gasco, a fighter against the Saracens. They claim, that where the church is now, once was a mosque. The convent existed upto 1834 - and the buildings now serve different institutions. Unfortunately the church was under reconstruction, when I visited.

São Salvador is a parish church today. Erected in the 13th century it was the church of the adjoining Benedictine monastery, founded mid 11th century. The church dates back to the late 12th/ early 13th century. Graf, Mattoso, and Real, authors of "Portugal Roman", connect the founding of the monastery to the descendents of Munio Viegas o Gasco, a fighter against the Saracens. They claim, that where the church is now, once was a mosque. The convent existed upto 1834 - and the buildings now serve different institutions. The massive tower may date back to a defence line during the Reconquista. The battlements were probably added in the 13th century, maybe even later. Unfortunately the church was under reconstruction, when I visited.

São Salvador is a parish church today. Erected in the 13th century it was the church of the adjoining Benedictine monastery, founded mid 11th century. The church dates back to the late 12th/ early 13th century. Graf, Mattoso, and Real, authors of "Portugal Roman", connect the founding of the monastery to the descendents of Munio Viegas o Gasco, a fighter against the Saracens. They claim, that where the church is now, once was a mosque. The convent existed upto 1834 - and the buildings now serve different institutions. The capitals flank the main portal. The carvings style is interesting, but rough. Unfortunately the church was under reconstruction, when I visited. But I could at least peep over the fences.

São Salvador is a parish church today. Erected in the 13th century it was the church of the adjoining Benedictine monastery, founded mid 11th century. The church dates back to the late 12th/ early 13th century. Graf, Mattoso, and Real, authors of "Portugal Roman", connect the founding of the monastery to the descendents of Munio Viegas o Gasco, a fighter against the Saracens. They claim, that where the church is now, once was a mosque. The convent existed upto 1834 - and the buildings now serve different institutions. The capitals flank the main portal. The carvings style is interesting, but rough. Unfortunately the church was under reconstruction, when I visited. But I could at least peep over the fences.

São Salvador is a parish church today. Erected in the 13th century it was the church of the adjoining Benedictine monastery, founded mid 11th century. The church dates back to the late 12th/ early 13th century. Graf, Mattoso, and Real, authors of "Portugal Roman", connect the founding of the monastery to the descendents of Munio Viegas o Gasco, a fighter against the Saracens. They claim, that where the church is now, once was a mosque. The convent existed upto 1834 - and the buildings now serve different institutions. Unfortunately the church was under reconstruction, when I visited. I could peep over the fences, but only enter the three nave basilica a few steps, as the interior was filled with scaffoldings - and the workers did not like visitors on the site.

São Salvador is a parish church today. Erected in the 13th century it was the church of the adjoining Benedictine monastery, founded mid 11th century. The church dates back to the late 12th/ early 13th century. Graf, Mattoso, and Real, authors of "Portugal Roman", connect the founding of the monastery to the descendents of Munio Viegas o Gasco, a fighter against the Saracens. They claim, that where the church is now, once was a mosque. The convent existed upto 1834 - and the buildings now serve different institutions. Unfortunately the church was under reconstruction, when I visited. I could peep over the fences, but only enter the three nave basilica a few steps, as the interior was filled with scaffoldings - and the workers did not like visitors on the site. But I could at least glimpse.

São Salvador is a parish church today. Erected in the 13th century it was the church of the adjoining Benedictine monastery, founded mid 11th century. The church dates back to the late 12th/ early 13th century. Graf, Mattoso, and Real, authors of "Portugal Roman", connect the founding of the monastery to the descendents of Munio Viegas o Gasco, a fighter against the Saracens. They claim, that where the church is now, once was a mosque. The convent existed upto 1834 - and the buildings now serve different institutions. Unfortunately the church was under reconstruction, when I visited, so that I could only glimpse the interior. Here is the slightly pointed side portal.

São Salvador is a parish church today. Erected in the 13th century it was the church of the adjoining Benedictine monastery, founded mid 11th century. The church dates back to the late 12th/ early 13th century. Graf, Mattoso, and Real, authors of "Portugal Roman", connect the founding of the monastery to the descendents of Munio Viegas o Gasco, a fighter against the Saracens. They claim, that where the church is now, once was a mosque. The convent existed upto 1834 - and the buildings now serve different institutions. The side portal had slightly pointed archivolts. These are the capitals of the left side of the portal. A nice, lean mermaid with a large fish is in the center.

São Salvador is a parish church today. Erected in the 13th century it was the church of the adjoining Benedictine monastery, founded mid 11th century. The church dates back to the late 12th/ early 13th century. Graf, Mattoso, and Real, authors of "Portugal Roman", connect the founding of the monastery to the descendents of Munio Viegas o Gasco, a fighter against the Saracens. They claim, that where the church is now, once was a mosque. The convent existed upto 1834 - and the buildings now serve different institutions. Surprisingly the capitals of the portal´s right side are very similar, if not identical, to them of the left (see prev. upload). Here again the lean mermaid with a large fish in the center.

São Salvador is a parish church today. Erected in the 13th century it was the church of the adjoining Benedictine monastery, founded mid 11th century. The church dates back to the late 12th/ early 13th century. Graf, Mattoso, and Real, authors of "Portugal Roman", connect the founding of the monastery to the descendents of Munio Viegas o Gasco, a fighter against the Saracens. They claim, that where the church is now, once was a mosque. The convent existed upto 1834 - and the buildings now serve different institutions. Here is either a really fat mermaid - or here are two lean mermaids sharing one head. Lions with this "feature" are common -but mermaids..?

São Salvador is a parish church today. Erected in the 13th century it was the church of the adjoining Benedictine monastery, founded mid 11th century. The church dates back to the late 12th/ early 13th century. Graf, Mattoso, and Real, authors of "Portugal Roman", connect the founding of the monastery to the descendents of Munio Viegas o Gasco, a fighter against the Saracens. They claim, that where the church is now, once was a mosque. The convent existed upto 1834 - and the buildings now serve different institutions. School is out - and the kids pose and wave in front of São Salvador.

It is widely believed, that the first King of Portugal, Afonso I (aka "Afonso o Conquistador"), was born in Guimarães in 1109, so Guimarães is sometimes referred to as the "birthplace of the Portuguese nationality" . For some decades, Guimarães was the capital of the County of Portugal, however due to the needs of the Reconquista, Coimbra became the kingdom's capital later. We visited Guimarães in heavy rain, so a lot of time, we spent in cafés, where it was dry and warm. The Café Snack-Bar Bilhares is a very nice one.

It is widely believed, that the first King of Portugal, Afonso I (aka "Afonso o Conquistador"), was born in Guimarães in 1109, so Guimarães is sometimes referred to as the "birthplace of the Portuguese nationality" . For some decades, Guimarães was the capital of the County of Portugal, however due to the needs of the Reconquista, Coimbra became the kingdom's capital later. The "Largo do Toural", Guimarães´ central square, is impressing, but looks surely better in brilliant sunshine.