Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation (Porches)
| Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation | |
|---|---|
| Parochial Church of Porches | |
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação | |
.JPG) The front facade of the parochial Church of Porches dedicated to Our Lady of the Incarnation | |
 | |
| 37°7′31.65″N 8°23′56.05″W / 37.1254583°N 8.3989028°W | |
| Location | Faro, Algarve, Algarve |
| Country | Portugal |
| History | |
| Dedication | Our Lady of the Incarnation |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Baroque |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 30.15 m (98.9 ft) |
| Width | 18.20 m (59.7 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Faro |
The Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation (or the Parochial Church of Porches) is a church situated in the civil parish of Porches, in the municipality of Lagoa in the Portuguese region of Algarve.
History[edit]
Founded in the 16th century, the church retains a few vestiges of its early history.[1] Only the chancel remains of the original church, which was later ruined by the 1755 earthquake.[1]
It was sometime during the 18th century that azulejo tile was installed in the main nave.[1]
A portion of the older temple was incorporated into the structure of the modern church, although remodeling in 1882 transformed the character of the present building.[1]
Architecture[edit]
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The exterior is an example of southern Portuguese church architecture with a somber facade.[1] The principal facade is oriented towards the west, with a triptych portico aligned on either side by a square annexes, surmounted by royal crown.[1]
The interior is notable for the chancel, dedicated to Our Lady of the Incarnation, with ribbed vaulting, and faced with tiles from the 17th century; and an 18th-century altar-piece of gilded carved wood with several images.[1] The vaulted-ceiling within the presbytery is decorated in azulejo tile, while the chancel is gilded in gold.[1]
More recently, the Irish artist, Patrick Swift, designed the stations of the cross for the church. Swift is buried in the local cemetery.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h Gordalina, Rosário (2006), SIPA (ed.), Igreja Paroquial de Porches/Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação (IPA.00024135/PT050806040022) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, archived from the original on 20 February 2014, retrieved 7 August 2013
- ^ Swift re-introduced pottery making to Porches when he founded, with Lima de Freitas, Porches Pottery (Olaria Algarve) in 1968.