8 days in Portugal-5-11 to 5/18/2022

Day 7-Beja Cathedral, Beja-5/16/2022

Next door to the Castle of Beja is the Cathedral of Beja also known as the Church of Sao Tiago Maior (St. James the great) so we decided to walk over and take a look.

This church has many names: Se cathedral de Sao Tiago Maior also called Beja Cathedral. The Cathedral is a religious building belonging to the Catholic Church and serves as the cathedral in Beja and also the seat of the Diocese of Beja.

This is the view of the Cathedral from the 2nd level of the Castle of Beja.

We are now approaching the Cathedral.

Beja Cathedral was built in 1590 on the site of an earlier church, also dedicated to St. James the Great is the oldest temples in the city.

The main Facade of the Cathedral.

The Cathedral is Mannerist style was built at the request of Archbishop Totonio de Braganca and design by the architect Jorge Rodrigues.

The church was transformed into a cathedral by decree of the Congregation of the Sacred Consistory on November 14, 1925.   On June 1937 the church was transformed into a Cathedral.

Main portico on the left and on the right is a side entrance.

As soon as you walked in there are few nuns sitting on the side to greet you.

View of the altar from the back of the Cathedral.

The altar piece is richly decorated in gilded carving.

The cathedral has 3 naves and the vault of each nave is made in different styles.

Close view of the altar with gilded carving by the Lisbon master Manuel Joao da Fonseca dating from 1696

This is called a hall temple meaning that the middle temple and side chapels are approximately the same height.

Jesus Christ altar.

Statue of Jesus Christ on his dead bed.

There are also lots of chapels dedicated to saints.

Tomb of Jose Patrocinio Dias who was the bishop of Beja,

Altar with a saint holding a baby

Series of Blue and white tiles panels dating from 18th century against the wall.

NEXT.... Day 7-Lunch at Adega 25 Abril