Thursday, September 6, 2012

My churches cards by TN

I love churches and any religious temples but i'm not a Church person.
I've visited all of these but didn't find any cards of them.

Photo by Marta Cairrão
I've been to Miranda do Douro last year with a friend. We went on a road trip to Trás-os-Montes, a region in northeast of Portugal.  We visited a few cities and Miranda do Douro was one of them. My friend drove and i chose where to stop. I decided to stop in Miranda just to see this church, the city's old cathedral.
This attractive twin-towered old cathedral was founded in the 16th century by King João III (1521-1557); it is now the parish church. Designed by Gonçalo de Torralva and Miguel de Arruda, it is a fine example of Mannerist architecture. - in: http://www.aportugalattraction.com/portugal-attractions/cathedral-miranda-do-douro.htm

 Photo by Marta Cairrão
On that same road trip, our next stop was Torre de Moncorvo and i've also decided to stop there because of this church.
The granite 16th century parish church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção is the largest church in the region of Tras-os-Montes. The façade is dominated by the tower and features gargoyles of human and animal shapes.
Locally, the church is said to be made of figs and honey, as a fig tree has established itself on the façade and there is also a beehive in the outer wall. - in: http://www.aportugalattraction.com/portugal-attractions/parish-church-torre-de-moncorvo.htm

 Photo by Marta Cairrão
Vila Real is the capital of the Trás-os-Montes region but i havent been there during last year's road trip. I've been there 3 times and the last time, when i took this picture, was in 2008. This is the city's cathedral.
This church only became the cathedral in 1922, when Pope Pious XI made Vila Real a diocese; originally it had been the church of St Dominic’s monastery. King João I granted permission for the construction of the monastery in 1421. After the banning of religious institutions in 1834, the other monastic buildings burnt down in mysterious circumstances in the mid-19th century. The bell-tower dates from 1742 and this fine Gothic building is now a National Monument. - in: http://www.aportugalattraction.com/portugal-attractions/cathedral-vila-real.htm

 Photo by Marta Cairrão
Castelo Bom is a village in my district. This is the Nossa Senhora da Assunção church, built in the 18th century in the same place of an older church from the 13th century.

Photo by Marta Cairrão
Finally, Espinho's church.
The largest monument of Espinho is the Parish Church. Its construction started in 1902 and was finished in the late 40’s. The temple is dominated by a decorative tower which is of great magnificence. The main front shows an arcade, a rose-window, a clock, the towers and finally, the tower’s pyramidal needle, crowned 40 meters high with the statue of “Nossa Senhora da Ajuda” (Our Lady of Help). The corners of the walls are used as pillars for two sculptures symbolizing Faith and Hope. in: -  http://iff.multimeios.pt/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=172&Itemid=242

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