The Terceiros Church in Braga, Portugal, has been restored to its former glory. Restoration of this officially declared monument of public interest has boosted religious tourism and revitalised its value as an important historic, cultural and touristic heritage for the city and the Norte region.
Terceiros Church: revitalising religious heritage in Braga, Portugal
- 19 February 2021
The funding of 85 %, granted by North 2020, of the total investment was truly important to the Venerable Third Order of St. Francis, making it possible to restore the dignity and integrity of the historic building, allowing this symbol of religiosity of the city of Braga to perpetuate in time.
Both the interior and exterior underwent substantial renovation works, which required less than a year-and-a-half to complete. Visitor numbers in the first four months after its inauguration already surpassed the estimated annual target and are expected to increase even further.
Restoring the façade, roof and bell tower
The façade features baroque and manneristic elements but is mostly known for its tiled surface. Both the roof and the façade were in deteriorating condition. These were restored completely. The roof was overhauled entirely, from the façade to the bell tower.
The bell tower’s floor, beams and joints had severe structural problems. To guarantee visitor access to one of the more central views of the city centre, the tower was reconstructed. The roof and tower gutters and down-pipes were cleaned and inspected to ensure proper water outflow.
An interior makeover
A second phase of restoration focused on the interior. The impressive wooden and stone altarpieces with gilt carvings, as well as statues and mural paintings, have been carefully refurbished.
All wooden aspects of the church were cleaned, followed by insecticide and fungicide treatment, before being covered with a stable and deep-penetrating resin for long-lasting protection. Irrevocably damaged wood was replaced and treated in the same way to avoid any distinction between original and new parts.
The lower parts of the interior walls are decorated with distinctive 18th century blue and white tiled panels, similar to those attached to the exterior. These underwent extensive restoration, to bring back their original bright colours. The building’s entire floor was restored.
Modern infrastructure
The windows were replaced to correct one of the more common problems in historic buildings: humidity. A ventilation system in the upper part of the frames allows air to circulate throughout the church, which reduces condensation.
The electrical infrastructure was reviewed and replaced where necessary to comply with modern standards. An automatic fire detection system better protects the building against fire.
New switchboards were installed to control the clock and tower bells, along with energy-efficient lighting. A new audio and imaging system ensures homogeneous coverage of the entire audience area.
To promote the project’s achievements, the church helped design and distribute several print publications, including a book on the history of its distinctive tiles. The book is designed to bring children closer to their patrimony through games and information on the discovery of the panels and stories about the illustrated characters. A brochure announcing the church’s official reopening was designed and distributed to inform local and regional residents.
Officially called the church of the Third Regular Order of São Francisco, the building dates back to the end of the 17th century, when it was built entirely with funds from its visitors. It is located in the parish of São José de São Lázaro and is one of the few churches in the city of Braga, but certainly the most important one.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Valorization, conservation and promotion of Terceiros Church” is EUR 818 579, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 695 792 through the “Norte” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period.