Description of the attraction
The Church of Nossa Senhora de Graça, or in translation from Portuguese - the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was founded in 1543. The portal of the main facade of the church is crowned with a niche in which there is a sculptural statue of the Madonna holding the Child in her arms. The portal is also decorated with Tuscan columns.
The interior of the temple is made in two styles - Mannerism and Baroque. The church has one nave. The altarpiece in the chapel, which dates back to the 17th century, deserves special attention. The altarpiece is decorated with paintings telling about the life of the Virgin Mary. The author of these paintings is Balthazar Gomes Figueira.
The Church of Our Lady of Grace is considered one of the earliest Renaissance buildings in Coimbra. The architectural appearance of this temple influenced the architecture of many other buildings in the city. The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary is part of the college of the same name.
It is worth noting that most colleges began to form in the 16th century, during the reformation of the University of Coimbra, during the reign of the Portuguese king João III. The colleges were for monks and priests who wanted to study at the University and belonged to a religious order. And the church built at such a college was considered a collegiate church.
The College of Our Lady of Mercy was founded by brother Luis de Montoya, who belonged to the Order of St. Augustine. The building was constructed by the architect Diego de Castillo. This building became the prototype for future colleges in the city. In 1549, the college was annexed to the University of Coimbra.
The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary was included in the list of monuments of national importance in 1997.
