"It is a building of Baroque architecture attributed to Nicolau Nasoni , whose works began in 1639 . With a profusely decorated façade and dynamic rhythms, it maintains a solid architecture marked by two imposing Tuscan columns, on either side of the entrance portico, with an entablature in relief and a counter-curved pediment to which three sculptures representing Saint Peter and two angels are superimposed.
History
In 1638 the Brotherhood of São Paulo was founded. The following year, on February 22, the first stone was laid for the Church of São Paulo, after a solemn procession. After its construction, the Irmandade was transferred from the Igreja da Misericórdia to the Igreja de São Paulo. The Brotherhood had two famous lamps , which illuminated the Blessed Sacrament, and a large pontifical cross with a silver host , topped by the pontifical tiara with keys. [ 2 ]
In 1656 , the will of Reverend António Soares de Mendonça, one of the main founders of the Brotherhood and church, placed the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle of the same church and in 1669 masses were instituted by Reverend João Correia de Mendonça in his chapel, dedicated to Santa Liberata and Santa Engrácia , the first side on the Epistle side, with a tomb in the basement.
In 1671 , construction began on the tower and the following year on the choir railings.
On January 19, 1709 , an agreement was recorded in the book of Minutes of the Municipality of Vila Real , in which the Municipality was obliged to give annually to the sacristan of the Church 3$000 for the maintenance and repair of the clock and bell of the Chamber, transferred at the request from the Brotherhood to the tower of the church of São Paulo, after the ruin of the tower of the wall where he was.
In 1710 , the altarpiece of the main altar and the sanctuary of the sacristy were built.
In 1721 the church was painted, gilded and tiled on the inside , had five altars, two on each side of the nave, in facing chapels, and the high altar with a tabernacle and pedestal where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed on feast days. There was a choir with organs , a sacristy lined with carved panels and with a sanctuary and "coffins", all well gilded and painted and, above, the office with a round table. It also had a sufficiently high tower, with bells, topped by a golden sphere and pontifical cross. In that same year, the Fraternity then had 200 priests and 15 lay Brothers.
Between 1754 and 1756 , the façade was demolished and reconstructed and the church was added by the architect João Lourenço de Matos, the construction of the connecting body between the bell tower and the nave and the probable construction of the north tower.
The Fabrication Commission of the Church of São Paulo was responsible for interventions carried out in 1976 and 1990 with the objective of restoring the side altars of the nave, with chipping and replacement of plaster, replacement of the nave and sacristy floor, execution of the electrical installation and networks of water and sewage, cladding the old access to the choir, construction of a concrete floor in the access to the bell tower and restoration of the roof of the dispatch house. In 2001 , the Vila Real City Council carried out the rehabilitation of the roof, application of plastering and painting on the interior and exterior, placement of new flooring in the nave and application of granite slabs on the exterior skirting.
Characteristic
Main facade.
Inside, the blue and white tile panels lining the walls stand out and depict episodes from the life of São Pedro and São Paulo , contemporaries of the chapel's architecture. It has many similarities with the Capela do Palácio de Mateus , with the Igreja do Carmo in Porto, both attributed to José Figueiredo Seixas , a disciple of Nicolau Nasoni , and with the Capela de Arroios, with which it shares a marked verticality.
It is classified as a Property of Public Interest ."
(
visit link)