It is located on Avenida Central, in the city of Braga
The Convent of Congregados, also referred to as the Convent of the Congregation of São Filipe de Néri, is located in the parish of São José de São Lázaro, city of Braga, Northern Portugal.
The complex comprises the Basilica of the Congregates and the College of the Congregants.
The complex comprises the Basilica of the Congregates and the College of the Congregants.
The History of the Congregados Convent
The Convento dos Congregados is an example of religious architecture in the Baroque style and was built at the end of the 17th century by the Congregation of the Oratory (Oratorianos) who came to the city at the invitation of Canon João de Meira Carrilho.
During the 18th century this building was considerably expanded, first with the construction of the basilica, and with the addition of another floor to the original building.
On May 30, 1834, the male religious orders, the Oratorians, were extinguished in the country.
During the 18th century this building was considerably expanded, first with the construction of the basilica, and with the addition of another floor to the original building.
On May 30, 1834, the male religious orders, the Oratorians, were extinguished in the country.
The Basilica of the Congregants
The Congregados Basilica was built in the 16th century with designs designed by architect André Soares.
On October 27, 1717, this Basilica was consecrated, but the towers still needed to be built and statues placed in the respective niches on the facade.
On October 27, 1717, this Basilica was consecrated, but the towers still needed to be built and statues placed in the respective niches on the facade.
The statues on the facade of “Saint Philip of Nery” and “Saint Martin of Dume” in the Basilica of the Congregates
The work was only completed in the 20th century when the statues on the facade of “São Filipe de Nery” and “São Martinho de Dume” were lifted into their niches on February 16, 1964 by the sculptor Manuel da Silva Nogueira.
The Facade of the Basilica of the Congregates
The facade of the Congregados church has a front that marks a path that developed towards abstraction linked to the rocaille influence.
This evolutionary line characterizes the third phase of André Soares' career, and the Congregados church is one of its best examples.
The presence of the Congregation of the Oratory in Braga dates back to the second half of the 17th century when Canon João de Meira Carrilho invited the Oratorians to settle in the city, with the approval of Archbishop D. Luís de Sousa.
The first temporary facilities were located near the Cathedral, but since 1687 the Oratorian priests have been in Campo de Sant'Ana, in accommodation that quickly proved to be too small for the growth of the Congregation.
In this renovation, a new church was also built, on the site where the oratory previously stood.
Work began in 1703, with the work being supervised by Manuel Fernandes da Silva, who was certainly the author of the project.
The "spatiality of the building" is characteristic of Manuel Fernandes da Silva, the niches of the crossing arch in the Mannerist tradition, the monumentality required by the Congregation, clearly visible in the uniformity of the space, and in terms of the dimensions of the crossing arch.
The temple was only commissioned in 1717, after the main chapel and part of the nave had been completed.
The next intervention was the responsibility of André Soares, who worked on this project between 1758 and 1766, and which resulted in a front marked by the central axis, whose verticalism was accentuated by the side pilasters, with several wavy frame openings that lend great tension to the whole.
The building's finish itself denotes the same wavy tendency that emanates from the remaining openings, and especially from the large central window whose shape resembles a keyhole, a taste for massive forms to the detriment of more delicate decorativism.
The towers that flank the facade date back to André Soares' intervention, and were only completed in the 20th century.
This evolutionary line characterizes the third phase of André Soares' career, and the Congregados church is one of its best examples.
The presence of the Congregation of the Oratory in Braga dates back to the second half of the 17th century when Canon João de Meira Carrilho invited the Oratorians to settle in the city, with the approval of Archbishop D. Luís de Sousa.
The first temporary facilities were located near the Cathedral, but since 1687 the Oratorian priests have been in Campo de Sant'Ana, in accommodation that quickly proved to be too small for the growth of the Congregation.
In this renovation, a new church was also built, on the site where the oratory previously stood.
Work began in 1703, with the work being supervised by Manuel Fernandes da Silva, who was certainly the author of the project.
The "spatiality of the building" is characteristic of Manuel Fernandes da Silva, the niches of the crossing arch in the Mannerist tradition, the monumentality required by the Congregation, clearly visible in the uniformity of the space, and in terms of the dimensions of the crossing arch.
The temple was only commissioned in 1717, after the main chapel and part of the nave had been completed.
The next intervention was the responsibility of André Soares, who worked on this project between 1758 and 1766, and which resulted in a front marked by the central axis, whose verticalism was accentuated by the side pilasters, with several wavy frame openings that lend great tension to the whole.
The building's finish itself denotes the same wavy tendency that emanates from the remaining openings, and especially from the large central window whose shape resembles a keyhole, a taste for massive forms to the detriment of more delicate decorativism.
The towers that flank the facade date back to André Soares' intervention, and were only completed in the 20th century.
The Chapel-Oratory of Our Lady of Aparecida in the Congregados Basilica
Still in this convent complex, another work by André Soares remains, the Chapel-Oratory of Nossa Senhora da Aparecida.
The Characteristics of the Chapel-Oratory of Our Lady of Aparecida in the Congregados Basilica
It has a very well-proportioned Greek cross plan, highlighting the gilded altarpiece, very possibly designed by the architect in the 1960s.
The vault, with an elliptical section and a clerestory finish, denotes a true exaggeration of almost Guarinesque illusionism, unique of its kind throughout the country.
The Congregados Basilica with a clear baroque influence, has a central body flanked by two bell towers, and the interior consists of a single nave, and the roof is barrel vaulted, and belonged to the Congregation of Saint Philip Nery.
The vault, with an elliptical section and a clerestory finish, denotes a true exaggeration of almost Guarinesque illusionism, unique of its kind throughout the country.
The Congregados Basilica with a clear baroque influence, has a central body flanked by two bell towers, and the interior consists of a single nave, and the roof is barrel vaulted, and belonged to the Congregation of Saint Philip Nery.
