Largo da Sra-A-Branca, in Braga
The Church of Nossa Senhora-a-Branca is located in Largo da Sra-A-Branca, on the edge of Avenida Central, parish of São Vítor, city of Braga, northern Portugal.
History
This temple dates back to the 14th century, a hermitage named Nossa Senhora das Neves, the White, next to São Victor. In 1522, D. Diogo de Sousa ordered the construction of a small church on this old hermitage.
In that year, the Brotherhood of Senhora-a-Branca already existed, and in the first half of the 17th century it would undergo a campaign of enlargement works, resulting in its current length and width. The reconstruction of this temple ended up being carried out in the 18th century, taking advantage of the last expansion campaign and modification of the facade and side walls, to introduce the side altars, the tribune and the main altar.
This accompanying Temple presents the Baroque and Mannerist style of the city's other churches. The Chapel of Senhora-a-Branca runs longitudinally and is made up of a single nave with a chancel, a bell tower and a sacristy.
In that year, the Brotherhood of Senhora-a-Branca already existed, and in the first half of the 17th century it would undergo a campaign of enlargement works, resulting in its current length and width. The reconstruction of this temple ended up being carried out in the 18th century, taking advantage of the last expansion campaign and modification of the facade and side walls, to introduce the side altars, the tribune and the main altar.
This accompanying Temple presents the Baroque and Mannerist style of the city's other churches. The Chapel of Senhora-a-Branca runs longitudinally and is made up of a single nave with a chancel, a bell tower and a sacristy.
Facade
The main façade is covered with 19th century tiles, with the altarpiece-portal with Mannerist lines in a round arch and is flanked by double Tuscan columns and topped by an entablature that supports a balcony with a glazed niche containing the image of the Orago.
This image is flanked by two tall rectangular windows, topped by a curved pediment and flanked by pinnacles and the center is surmounted by a cross. The current building dates from the 18th century, but there has been a hermitage dedicated to the Mother of God in that area since the first quarter of the 14th century. The temple was rebuilt by Bishop D. Diogo de Sousa, as a finishing touch to the Sant'Ana field that he ordered to be opened.
Originally, it was called the Church of Nossa Senhora das Neves and as in the central niche of the church's facade there is an image of Our Lady dressed in white, the people began to call her Senhora-a-Branca, becoming the current name of the church.
The invocation is directly linked to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, in Rome, which will also explain the devotion to the Nativity of Christ that developed in this temple in Braga. The church has a Pipe Organ by José António de Sousa dating from 1774.
This image is flanked by two tall rectangular windows, topped by a curved pediment and flanked by pinnacles and the center is surmounted by a cross. The current building dates from the 18th century, but there has been a hermitage dedicated to the Mother of God in that area since the first quarter of the 14th century. The temple was rebuilt by Bishop D. Diogo de Sousa, as a finishing touch to the Sant'Ana field that he ordered to be opened.
Originally, it was called the Church of Nossa Senhora das Neves and as in the central niche of the church's facade there is an image of Our Lady dressed in white, the people began to call her Senhora-a-Branca, becoming the current name of the church.
The invocation is directly linked to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, in Rome, which will also explain the devotion to the Nativity of Christ that developed in this temple in Braga. The church has a Pipe Organ by José António de Sousa dating from 1774.
