Igreja de São Tiago

he history of the church of Santiago began in the middle of the 10th century with the donation of its land to the Monastery of Lorvão. However, the consecration of the church only occurred in 1206. Its construction seems to have lasted for many years.Throughout history, the church has undergone several changes. It even built a second church over the first in the 16th century. This was removed during the restoration in the early 20th century. Due to this, but also to the architectural originality of many of its parts, there is no consensus on the chronology of its structure. In any case, such interventions do not diminish the architectural richness that the church of Santiago possesses. It is an example of the Romanesque school of Coimbra. The church features traces of fortitude, sober decor, and small openings. Thus privileging the military-defensive character of its stone construction, as is typical of the Romanesque.A prominent and peculiar work of the 12th-century Romanesque school of Coimbra is the southern portal. Note the geometric shapes that refer to the flora. These are the results of previous studies carried out in the Old Cathedral. This same style, but from a later period, can be identified in the main portal.If you're curious about what's in the region, take a look at the free audio guide at this link:https://izi.travel/en/c125-coimbra/enI hope you enjoy your time in Coimbra!