Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Leiria — Attraction in Leiria

The construction of the See began in 1546, according to a project by architect Afonso Álvares, who opted for the mannerist style abroad, retaining a harmonious interior with three naves of the same height, of late Renaissance inspiration. The church was consecrated only in 1574, when it had no sacristy, or other dependencies. In the following centuries some changes have been made thanks to episcopal action. The 1755 earthquake caused serious damage to the main facade, whose reconstruction began the following year. In 1772, D. Frei Miguel de Bolhões and Sousa had the bell tower built a little away from the building, over the old medieval tower of the gates of the sun, which marked the southern entrance into the castle wall. In 1810, during the Napoleonic wars, a fire partially consumed the interior of the church. Outstanding a sober, baroque and mannerist architecture, the See of Leiria has some similarities to those of Portalegre and Miranda do Douro and also bears some vestiges of gothic heritage. It has Latin cross plant and three naves of equal height, separated by pillars. The maneer-style chancel, dated the seventeenth century and is by Baltasar Álvares and Friar João Turriano. It integrates the altarpiece with paintings by Simão Rodrigues, which portray episodes of the life of the Virgin Mary. Two large baroque organs that overlap two side chairs complete...

Leiría se convirtió en cabeza de diócesis en 1545, separándose su territorio de la de Coímbra. En la ciudad no había templo capaz alguno, con lo que inmediatamente se propuso la construcción de una catedral nueva, que se comienza en 1559 y que fue consagrada en 1574. Las obras continuaron con la adición de la sacristía y el claustro, que fue adosado a la cabecera al tiempo que, ya en el XVII, se acaba la capilla mayor. Es también original que su campanario esté exento: se trata de una torre de las antiguas murallas, junto a la Puerta del Sol, cuyo aspecto actual data de la segunda mitad del siglo XVIII, pues fue reconstruida tras los daños causados por el terremoto de Lisboa (1755). También se rehizo entonces, y por lo mismo, la fachada. El edificio destaca por su gran sobriedad, sin apenas decoración en el exterior ni en el interior. Es un ejemplo de las catedrales tardorrenacentistas que, como ella, nacen en el Portugal del siglo XVI al reformularse su mapa diocesano –otras son Portalegre y...

The Leiria's main church right on the city's downtown. Near the Leiria's castle and other important spots on the city. Have masses all days at 8:00 AM. There are also a touristic way based on the Eça de Queiroz novel The Crime of Father Amado which was based on this church and the neighborhood. Some great place to have good or...