Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Pópulo, Gothic and Manueline church in Nossa Senhora do Pópulo, Portugal
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Pópulo is a church combining Gothic and Manueline architectural styles in southern Portugal. It has a single nave, a bell tower, and walls covered with decorative ceramic tiles.
Queen Dona Leonor commissioned this church around 1500 as a private chapel for an adjacent thermal spa hospital complex. The structure shows the flourishing of Manueline architecture at the start of the modern era.
The church displays decorative tiles with religious patterns that shape its interior and reflect Portuguese craftsmanship traditions. Visitors can observe the artistic design of the walls, which shows the decorative practices typical of that era.
The church is located in the town center of Caldas da Rainha and is easy to reach on foot. It is recommended to call ahead to arrange tours and confirm that access is available.
The architect Mateus Fernandes designed this church and also created the Unfinished Chapel at Batalha Monastery. His two works show different approaches to Manueline design in Portugal.
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