Igreja Paroquial de Santiago, Religious landmark in Santa Maria Maior, Portugal.
Igreja Paroquial de Santiago is a church in Santa Maria Maior featuring a single nave with a carved portal displaying the Order of Santiago coat of arms on its facade. The interior is decorated with twelve ceiling medallions from the 18th century depicting religious scenes, with the Assumption of the Virgin positioned at the center.
The earliest reference to this place dates to 1160, and it received official parish status in 1337. These two milestones show how this religious community established itself and grew more important over time.
The name honors Saint James, the church's patron, whose coat of arms appears on the facade and connects this place to pilgrimage traditions. The community gathers for celebrations of Our Lady, Saint James the Greater, and Saint Martin, marking important moments in the local religious calendar.
The church is regularly open and functions as an active community space today. Visitors who want to experience the celebrations and gatherings should plan their visit around the festival dates, particularly those honoring the patrons and the Virgin.
The building contains a baptismal font from the 15th century and a mobile organ crafted by António Xavier Machado e Cerveira. These objects are reminders of skilled craftwork and artistic tradition that visitors can still observe inside.
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