Church
Capela de Fandinhães
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Hernâni
August 27, 2013
Commonly known as Chapel of Fandinhães, this building was once a private church building that belonged to an archdeacon from Viseu, whose lineage held its patronage, in 1258. However, nowadays only the chancel of this primitive Church remains. Apparently, the evolution of local parishes would have been the main reason for its current state: the Church was located in the small parish of Fonte de Cova, which included the hamlets of Fandinhães, Ambrões, Mourilhermo and Paços de Gaiolo. The facts that the hamlet of Fandinhães is located on a mountain - 500 meters above sea level -, that there was a growing population in the hamlet of Paços de Gaiolo - which stood on a milder and more central place -, and that the Hermitage of Saint Clement was built, may have caused the loss of importance of Fonte de Cova in favour of Paços de Gaiolo. Although some authors refer 1873 as the year when the Church's nave was dismantled, the fact is that in 1864 it was already mutilated, with its remaining structure (chancel) showing a state of decay. Since it was ruined, it began being dismantled and its stone was reused to extend the current parish church. However, there is the perception, among several researchers, that the Church built during the Romanesque period would not have been fully completed. We may refer what has been previously described as one of the possible causes for its non-completion: the villages located at a higher altitude, such as Fandinhães, would have begun to lose their interest from the Romanesque period onwards, in favour of other villages located in low altitude areas, close to watercourses, encouraging the displacement of populations to these places and, in this particular case, to Paços de Gaiolo. However, there is still no concrete evidence to back up this thesis.
Commonly known as Chapel of Fandinhães, this building was once a private church building that belonged to an archdeacon from Viseu, whose lineage held its patronage, in 1258. However, nowadays only the chancel of this primitive Church remains. Apparently, the evolution of local parishes would have b…
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Location
Paços de Gaiolo, Porto