Church of Saint Mary of Sobretâmega - Rota do Românico
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Built on the right bank of the river Tâmega, at the entrance of the now missing Bridge of Canaveses, the Church of Sobretâmega was founded after 1320 and seems to have replaced another temple, whose patron was Saint Peter.

It should be understood within this framework and in its close relationship with the Church of Saint Nicholas of Canaveses, on the other riverbank, so close by and with a very similar structure.

Its portals attest to the late chronology, given the absence of columns and capitals. In the main portal, only the corbels [salient support stones] adorned with pearls show the permanence of a Romanesque motif which was often used in the basins of the Tâmega and Douro.

This portal would be sheltered by a porch [attached cover], as the remaining corbels reveal. The bell tower stands isolated to the north of the chevet.

Of modest dimensions, it has been subjected to deep changes in Modern Era, namely at the level of the arrangement of the triumphal arch with pilasters and intradorsum pads.

In the chancel, the whitewashed interior houses a gilded altarpiece of “National“ style. It is also worth mentioning the limestone image dedicated to the patron saint, which represents the Marian cult established in this temple since the 14th century.


Type: Church

Classification: Public Interest Building – 1971

Route: Tâmega Valley

12th century: beginning of the reconstruction of the bridge of Canaveses;

14th century (2nd quarter): the Churches of Saint Nicholas of Canaveses and Saint Mary of Sobretâmega were only built from this period onwards.

1355, August 5th: peace was declared between the King Afonso IV and his son Pedro I in the town of Canaveses;

1656/57: replacement of the panel-shaped altarpiece with the image of Christ in the chancel arch’s altarpiece;

1674: decision to renovate the painting of the altarpiece of the chapel of the Stigmata;

1699: new decision to renovate the altarpiece of the chapel of the Stigmata, together with several interventions in the chapel itself;

1944: demolition of the bridge of Canaveses rebuilt in the 12th century, which was reconstructed a little farther downstream;

1971 (November 22nd): classification of the ensemble composed by the Churches of Saint Mary of Sobretâmega and Saint Nicholas as having a “Public Interest”;

1990s: several conservation works were carried out in the Church of Sobretâmega, under the DGEMN’s supervision;

2010: the Church of Sobretâmega became part of the Route of the Romanesque

Saint Mary - 15th August

By appointment

Sunday - 8 am (summer) or 5 pm (winter)

Monument not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.

visitasrr@valsousa.pt

+351 255 810 706

+351 918 116 488

How to get here:

41.194588, -8.161603

Rua da Igreja, Sobretâmega, Marco de Canaveses, Porto

By Train
Douro Railroad (Porto-Marco Urban Trains or Porto-Régua/Pocinho Regional Trains), with exits at Marco de Canaveses station (3.0 km from Church of Sobretâmega). Check here for all the schedules and price table.

By Car

Northern Portugal: A28/A3/A24/A7/A11 » A4 (Vila Real) » Marco de Canaveses » Rota Românico/Igreja de Sobretâmega.

Porto: A4 (Vila Real) » Marco de Canaveses » Rota Românico/Igreja de Sobretâmega.

Central/Southern Portugal: A1 (Porto)/ A29 (V.N. Gaia) » A41 CREP » A4 (Vila Real) » Marco de Canaveses » Rota Românico/Igreja de Sobretâmega.

Marco de Canaveses: N211 Penafiel » Rota Românico/Igreja de Sobretâmega.

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