Description of the attraction
The Church of Saint Dominic (founded in 1423), which today is called the Cathedral of Aveiro (or Cathedral of San Domingos), is located in the heart of the city, which is often called the Portuguese Venice because of the two canals with arched bridges that cross city of Aveiro.
The Church of St. Dominic, previously located on the territory of the monastery of the same name, was consecrated in 1464. After the ban on religious orders was imposed, the monastery was turned into a barracks. After a while, the monastery burned down, and the church, which was not affected by the fire, became a cathedral.
The baroque portal of the cathedral is surrounded by four twisted columns and is decorated with the image of the three graces, made in 1719. The nave of the cathedral is framed by egg-shaped windows. The interior of the cathedral strikes the imagination with works of art, but the cross in the courtyard, made in the Gothic style (late 15th century), attracts special attention.
During the 16-17 centuries, the reconstruction of the cathedral was carried out, which significantly changed the facade of the building. A characteristic feature of the temple is the combination of several architectural styles, namely: Mannerism (side chapels), Baroque (high choir, vaults and cross) and modernism (transept and main chapel).
Since 1996, the cathedral has been included in the list of monuments of public interest, and the city of Aveiro itself is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
