Church of Saint Ildefonso
Encyclopedia
The Igreja de Santo Ildefonso is an 18th century church in Porto
, Portugal, situated near Batalha Square
. Completed in 1739, the church was built in a proto-Baroque
style and features a retable
by the Italian artist Nicolau Nasoni
and a façade of azulejo
tilework. The church is named in honour of the Visigoth
Ildephonsus of Toledo
, bishop of Toledo
from 657 until his death in 667.
The aged chapel, in danger of collapsing, was demolished in 1709, and construction began on the new church that year. The building took thirty years to complete, finally inaugurated and blessed on 18 July 1739. The first stage of construction was completed in 1730, when the main body was finished and the tympanum
, bearing the date M DCC XXX (1730), was placed. The second construction phase, from 1730 to 1739, saw the erection of the two bell towers, and the façade and narthex
were finalised.
The architect of the Igreja de Santo Ildefonso is unknown, though records exist giving the names of the carpenters, masons, and locksmith who worked on the building.
Extensively repaired following a severe storm in 1819, the church also suffered damage from artillery fire on 21 July 1833 during the Siege of Porto
. Over the years the church has undergone structural modifications and improvements, including replacement stained glass windows in 1967, created by the artist Isolino Vaz. Nineteen graves were discovered in 1996, during renovation works to the narthex, an area that corresponds to the original chapel's churchyard.
s and dentil
s, and each tower is topped with masonry spheres, a stone cross, and a metalwork flag.
A monolithic obelisk stands to the left of the church, although it was initially erected on a set of steps extending towards Rua de 31 de Janeiro. Originally positioned to align with the bell tower of nearby Clérigos Church
, it was moved to its present location when the steps were altered in 1924 to accommodate shops.
Two notable features of the church are the retable and the blue-and-white tiling. The artist and architect Nicolau Nasoni
designed the retable, which was created and installed by architect Miguel Francisco da Silva in 1745. Approximately 11,000 azulejo tiles cover the façade of the church, created by the artist Jorge Colaço
and placed in November 1932. The tiles depict scenes from the life of Saint Ildefonso and figurative imagery from the Gospels.
The church sits near Porto's Batalha Square, an historic, mostly pedestrianised public space that is frequented by tourists. The church receives many visitors each year, and holds mass daily.
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, Portugal, situated near Batalha Square
Batalha Square
Batalha Square is a historical public square located in the city of Porto, in Portugal.According to tradition, the name batalha comes from a 10th-century battle fought between the Moorish forces of Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir and the inhabitants of Porto, which resulted in the defeat of the latter...
. Completed in 1739, the church was built in a proto-Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style and features a retable
Retable
A retable is a framed altarpiece, raised slightly above the back of the altar or communion table, on which are placed the cross, ceremonial candlesticks and other ornaments....
by the Italian artist Nicolau Nasoni
Nicolau Nasoni
Nicolau Nasoni was an Italian artist and architect but mostly active in Portugal....
and a façade of azulejo
Azulejo
Azulejo from the Arabic word Zellige زليج is a form of Portuguese or Spanish painted, tin-glazed, ceramic tilework. They have become a typical aspect of Portuguese culture, having been produced without interruption for five centuries...
tilework. The church is named in honour of the Visigoth
Visigoth
The Visigoths were one of two main branches of the Goths, the Ostrogoths being the other. These tribes were among the Germans who spread through the late Roman Empire during the Migration Period...
Ildephonsus of Toledo
Ildephonsus of Toledo
Saint Ildefonsus or Ildephonsus was the metropolitan bishop of Toledo from 657 until his death. He was a Visigoth and his Gothic name was Hildefuns, which evolved into the Castilian name Alfonso. Ildefonsus, however, is known as San Ildefonso in Castilian and there are several places named after him...
, bishop of Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
from 657 until his death in 667.
History
Prior to the building of the Church of Saint Ildefonso, a chapel, known as Santo Alifon, stood on the site. Its construction date is unknown, but several early texts mention its existence. The earliest known reference to the site and the original church is in a work by a bishop of Porto, Vicente Mendes, dated 1296.The aged chapel, in danger of collapsing, was demolished in 1709, and construction began on the new church that year. The building took thirty years to complete, finally inaugurated and blessed on 18 July 1739. The first stage of construction was completed in 1730, when the main body was finished and the tympanum
Tympanum (architecture)
In architecture, a tympanum is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element....
, bearing the date M DCC XXX (1730), was placed. The second construction phase, from 1730 to 1739, saw the erection of the two bell towers, and the façade and narthex
Narthex
The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper...
were finalised.
The architect of the Igreja de Santo Ildefonso is unknown, though records exist giving the names of the carpenters, masons, and locksmith who worked on the building.
Extensively repaired following a severe storm in 1819, the church also suffered damage from artillery fire on 21 July 1833 during the Siege of Porto
Liberal Wars
The Liberal Wars, also known as the Portuguese Civil War, the War of the Two Brothers, or Miguelite War, was a war between progressive constitutionalists and authoritarian absolutists in Portugal over royal succession that lasted from 1828 to 1834...
. Over the years the church has undergone structural modifications and improvements, including replacement stained glass windows in 1967, created by the artist Isolino Vaz. Nineteen graves were discovered in 1996, during renovation works to the narthex, an area that corresponds to the original chapel's churchyard.
Features and usage
Constructed of granite, the shape of the church's main body is that of an elongated octagon, with decorative plaster ceilings. The façade, also granite, is regular and mostly plain, with two bell towers and a rectangular recess where a figure of the church's patron stands. The bell towers include decorative corniceCornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
s and dentil
Dentil
In classical architecture a dentil is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice.The Roman architect Vitruvius In classical architecture a dentil (from Lat. dens, a tooth) is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice.The Roman architect...
s, and each tower is topped with masonry spheres, a stone cross, and a metalwork flag.
A monolithic obelisk stands to the left of the church, although it was initially erected on a set of steps extending towards Rua de 31 de Janeiro. Originally positioned to align with the bell tower of nearby Clérigos Church
Clérigos Church
The Clérigos Church is a Baroque church in the city of Porto, in Portugal. Its tall bell tower, the Torre dos Clérigos, can be seen from various points of the city and is one of its most characteristic symbols....
, it was moved to its present location when the steps were altered in 1924 to accommodate shops.
Two notable features of the church are the retable and the blue-and-white tiling. The artist and architect Nicolau Nasoni
Nicolau Nasoni
Nicolau Nasoni was an Italian artist and architect but mostly active in Portugal....
designed the retable, which was created and installed by architect Miguel Francisco da Silva in 1745. Approximately 11,000 azulejo tiles cover the façade of the church, created by the artist Jorge Colaço
Jorge Colaço
Jorge Colaço was a Portuguese painter specially known for his works as tile painter.Jorge Colaço was born in Tangier, Morocco, the son of a Portuguese diplomat...
and placed in November 1932. The tiles depict scenes from the life of Saint Ildefonso and figurative imagery from the Gospels.
The church sits near Porto's Batalha Square, an historic, mostly pedestrianised public space that is frequented by tourists. The church receives many visitors each year, and holds mass daily.