Century XVII/XVIII
It is a Renaissance-style temple and dates back to the early 17th century regarding the first phase of construction It is a single nave structure, with a bell tower attached to the west façade. Over the door and the main façade, the pediments mark the rhythm and ornamentation of this temple, where the white of the walls contrasts with the granites of the angles and the door and window frames. Inside, the single nave of the church leads the visitor’s gaze to the high altar, on a rectangular headboard and a wooden-vaulted ceiling. The gilded woodcarvings decorate the usual places. The decoration of the triumphant arch and the small niches that surround it is noteworthy.
Tuesday to Saturday, 15h00-17h00 and Sunday, 10h00 -13h00
Festivities: Weekend following Easter (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday), 10h00-24h00.
Our Lady of Mercy
The great protector and devotional reference of the Churches of Misericórdia is the Mother of Christ, under the invocation of Our Lady of Mercy. The Virgin is the “Mother of Mercy”, justifying the title by the marvels that God has worked in her, and praised in the ‘Magnificat’ song: “His mercy extends from generation to generation over those who fear Him!” Our Lady of Mercy welcomes and protects the most unfortunate, abandoned and needy. The iconography is the highest expression of the protection given by the Virgin: under her wide open and welcoming mantle are all the unprotected ones. This invocation corresponds to the very aims of the Institution of which it is the custodian: the misericórdias, which were created by Queen Leonor at the end of the 15th century, propose to accomplish the 14 works of mercy, within a sense of brotherhood based on the principles of Christian love and solidarity among all.
In the Church of Misericórdia of Fão, Our Lady of Mercy, the patron saint, is represented on a canvas in the main chapel attributed to painter António Monteiro, from Braga, which was first displayed on December 8, 1749. Our Lady, crowned Queen of Portugal, with her hands placed in prayer and the 21 angels holding her mantle, covers 26 figures at her feet. To the right of the reader, the religious hierarchy (pope, bishop and monk), to the left the military and civil hierarchy (king, queen, wealthy men and nuns) and, in the centre, the people who are represented by a kneeling prisoner.
The main chapel also bears images of Our Lady of Expectation, who blesses women in labour and Our Lady of the Milk, Maria Lactans, symbols of the oldest Marian iconography in Portugal.
