Description of the attraction
Barcelos is a small town famous for its rich history, founded during the Roman conquest. It is also the only Portuguese city that stands on the banks of the Cavadu River. It was here that the national symbol of Portugal - the cockerel - appeared.
The central square of the old town is the Republic Square in the Renaissance style. On Thursday mornings, it hosts one of the largest and most crowded fairs in Europe, where you can buy many goods, from vegetables, fruits and meat to handicrafts and much more. To the north of Place de la Republique is the Church of Nossa Senhora do Terso.
The church previously belonged to a Benedictine monastery, which was founded in 1705. The Nossa Senhora do Terso building was built in the 18th century by King Juan V in response to the wishes of his father, King Pedro II. The uncomplicated exterior of the church hides a magnificent interior in the Baroque style. Inside the church, all the walls are covered with magnificent panels, made by the famous Portuguese tiles "azulejos", which display various scenes from the life of St. Benedict. Attention is drawn to the wooden altars, decorated with numerous decorative carvings and gilding, the authorship of which is attributed to Ambrosio Coelho. Inside the church there is an image of Our Lady of Tersu, made of wood in the 18th century, and a sculpture depicting the crucifixion of Christ from around the 15th century. There is also a sculpture of the Mother of God Abadia made of anka stone from the middle of the 16th century.
