Description of the attraction
The Church of Our Lady of Olive is located in Plaza Oliveira. The Church of Our Lady of Oliva is part of an old monastery that was founded in the 10th century. The church was built in the 12th century by King Afonso Henriques of Portugal as a token of gratitude for his victory at the Battle of Ouric. After this battle, the soldiers proclaimed Afonso king of Portugal, and Portugal became an independent state. There is also another legend about the origin of this church: the Visigoth king Wamba stuck a twig of an olive tree in the place where the church stands and swore an oath that he would not reign until the branch blossomed. After the king spoke, the branch blossomed.
In the 14th century, the church was enlarged and rebuilt by King Joao I, who made a vow to the Holy Virgin Mary to restore the church, which began to collapse if he won a victory at Aljubarotta. The king kept his promise, the reconstruction of the temple was carried out under the direction of the architect Garcia de Toledo. During the renovation, most of the original Romanesque covered galleries were destroyed. The chapter building and the wings of two covered galleries were built in the Romanesque style with elements of the Mudejar style (a trend in the architecture of Spain of the XIV-XVI centuries).
This church is the only one in Portugal in which the ceiling of the Gothic style is decorated with paintings. The paintings on the ceiling also show the Byzantine influence. Prayer chairs of the 16th century with neoclassical backs deserve special attention. Attention is drawn to the silver altar in the Gothic style and a panel with a picture in the Capella do Santissimo Sacramento. The tower, which is adjacent to the church and dates back to 1513, houses the tomb of the parents of King Joao I. At the end of the 17th century, the altar of the temple was expanded, and the coat of arms of King Joao I is depicted on the vaulted ceiling.
