Images of Portugal: Igreja de Santo Cristo do Outeiro, Bragança
The Igreja de Santo Cristo do Outeiro, in the small village of Outeiro, 23 km south west of Bragança is an important pilgrimage site and historic church.
Construction began shortly after a reported miracle on April 26, 1698, when the image of the Holy Christ in the earlier chapel was said to have sweated blood. Although the new church opened for worship in May 1713, it was not fully completed until 1739.
The church's architecture is notable for its symmetry and well-balanced proportions. It intentionally follows a Baroque style influenced by the Manueline architecture of the Age of Discoveries, drawing inspiration primarily from the church of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Belém (Jerónimos Monastery).
The main façade is inspired by the church of the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon. It features an impressive twin portal, topped by a large rose window and flanked by two bell towers with pyramidal roofs.
The interior, in Baroque style, is typical of a hall church. The altars, featuring polychrome and gilded woodcarving, are particularly noteworthy. In the sacristy, the coffered paintings by the painter Damião Bustamante stand out; they were completed in 1768 and reflect a revivalist trend inspired by the seventeenth century.
Address: Rua do Santo Cristo, 5300-711 Outeiro, Portugal.