{"id":24373,"date":"2025-11-03T20:18:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T20:18:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sedefaro.pt\/en\/?page_id=24373"},"modified":"2026-01-16T16:13:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T16:13:38","slug":"historia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sedefaro.pt\/en\/historia\/","title":{"rendered":"Hist\u00f3ria"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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History of Faro Cathedral<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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From the Origins to the Medieval Construction<\/strong>
Faro Cathedral, also known as the Church of Saint Mary (Igreja de Santa Maria), was built following the Christian reconquest of Faro from the Moors in 1249, during the reign of King Afonso III. The temple was erected upon the remains of a Paleo-Christian basilica which, during the Moorish period, had been converted into a mosque.<\/span><\/p>

In the Moorish era, to the ancient Roman name of Oss\u00f3noba was added, after the 9th century, the reference to Santa Maria do Ocidente (Saint Mary of the West) by Ibn Harun and, later, Faaron. In 1251, two years after the reconquest, the Archbishop of Braga, Dom Jo\u00e3o Viegas, began construction of the church, dedicated to Our Lady. In 1271, the temple was entrusted to the Order of Saint James as a reward for their services in the taking of the settlement.<\/span><\/p>

Under the reign of King Dinis, from 1321 onwards, the church underwent a new phase of works, being enlarged and redesigned. Some architectural elements from the original 13th and 14th-century building are still preserved, such as the bell tower and the two transept chapels. In the 15th century, the temple underwent further remodelling, of which medieval remains still exist, including the portico, the tower, the lateral transept chapels with ribbed vaults, and an interior side door.<\/span><\/p>

Elevation to Cathedral<\/b>
In 1577, during the episcopate of the humanist bishop Dom Jer\u00f3nimo Os\u00f3rio, the church was elevated to Cathedral status, becoming the seat of the Diocese of the Algarve following the transfer of the bishopric from Silves to Faro.<\/span><\/p>

The English Attack of 1596<\/b>
However, in 1596, the city was invaded by English troops led by Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, who sacked and set fire to the church, destroying much of its interior, including the altars and wooden ceilings.<\/span><\/p>

Baroque Reconstruction<\/b>
Following this attack, extensive reconstruction work began, introducing Doric columns that support the semi-circular arches separating the building\u2019s three aisles. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the church was enriched with gilded woodcarvings and Baroque decorative elements, which today represent one of the most valuable ensembles of that period in the Algarve.<\/span><\/p>

Earthquakes and Restorations<\/b>
The earthquakes of 1722 and 1755 caused further damage to the building, necessitating successive restoration works that significantly altered its original design.<\/span><\/p>

The Cathedral Today<\/b>
Today, Faro Cathedral features a longitudinal plan with three aisles of four bays, separated by Doric columns, a tripartite rectangular chancel, and a main chapel with a coffered ceiling. The main entrance is through a quadrangular galilee (porch) preceding the pointed arch portal situated beneath the bell tower. The north fa\u00e7ade features a portal with a shaped pediment decorated with plasterwork and an ogival padded wooden door. The bell tower, which survived various periods of destruction, is now one of the city\u2019s finest viewpoints.<\/span><\/p>

The Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of the Algarve, currently Dom Manuel Neto Quintas.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Timeline<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Paleo-Christian Period<\/strong>\nOriginal Paleo-Christian basilica.\nThe first Christians in Oss\u00f3noba.<\/p>\n\n

Islamic Period (8th\u201313th Century)<\/strong>\nConversion into a mosque.\nSanta Maria do Ocidente of Ibn Harun (Faaron).<\/p>\n\n

1249 \u2013 Christian Reconquest<\/strong>\nKing Afonso III conquers Faro.<\/p>\n\n

1251 \u2013 Construction Begins<\/strong>\nDom Jo\u00e3o Viegas, Archbishop of Braga.\nChurch dedicated to Saint Mary.<\/p>\n\n

1271 \u2013 Entrusted to the Order of Saint James<\/strong>\nReward for services rendered during the reconquest.<\/p>\n\n

1321 \u2013 Expansion<\/strong>\nReign of King Dinis.\nNew phase of construction works.<\/p>\n\n

15th Century \u2013 Remodelling<\/strong>\nPortico and side chapels.\nInterior side door.<\/p>\n\n

1577 \u2013 Elevation to Cathedral<\/strong>\nDom Jer\u00f3nimo Os\u00f3rio.\nTransfer of the episcopal see from Silves.<\/p>\n\n

1596 \u2013 English Attack<\/strong>\nRobert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex.\nDestruction of altars and ceilings.<\/p>\n\n

17th Century \u2013 Baroque Reconstruction<\/strong>\nInstallation of Doric columns.\nBeginnings of the Baroque chapels.<\/p>\n\n

18th Century \u2013 The Golden Age<\/strong>\nEnrichment with ornate altarpieces.\nPolychrome tiles (azulejos).\nInstallation of historic organs.<\/p>\n\n

1722 and 1755 \u2013 Earthquakes<\/strong>\nStructural damage.\nExtensive new restorations.<\/p>\n\n

20th\u201321st Century \u2013 Preservation<\/strong>\nClassification as a National Monument.\nModern restoration projects.\nEnhancement of tourism and heritage value.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Historical Figures<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Dom Jo\u00e3o Viegas de Portocarreiro<\/b><\/span>
Archbishop of Braga, who began the construction of the church in 1251.<\/span><\/p>

Dom Jer\u00f3nimo Os\u00f3rio (1564\u20131580)<\/b>
A humanist bishop who elevated the church to Cathedral status in 1577. Known as the “Portuguese Cicero”, he was one of the greatest intellectuals of the Portuguese Renaissance.\u00a0<\/p>

Dom Francisco Barreto I (1636\u20131649)<\/b>
Commissioned the construction of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption (1640) and the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.<\/p>

Dom Ant\u00f3nio Pereira da Silva (1704\u20131715)<\/b>
Commissioned the Chapel of Saint Vincent and the Relics, where his tomb is located.<\/p>

Dom Sim\u00e3o da Gama (1685\u20131703)<\/b>
Commissioned the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Episcopal Pantheon.<\/p>

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Chronological Succession of the Bishops of the Diocese of the Algarve
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Bishops of Oss\u00f3noba<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bishops of the Algarve \u2013 See at Silves<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bishops of the Algarve \u2013 See at Faro<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Vicente (306, 314)
It\u00e1cio Claro (380)
Pedro (589)
Saturnino (653)
Exarno (666)
Belito (683)
Agr\u00edpio (688, 693)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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D. Nicolau (1189-1191)
D. Frei Roberto (1253-1261)
D. Garcia (1261-1268)
D. Frei Bartolomeu (1268-1292)
D. Frei Domingos Soares (1292-1297)
D. Jo\u00e3o Soares Al\u00e3o (1297-1310)
D. Afonso Anes (1312-1320)
D. Pedro (1322-1333)
D. Frei \u00c1lvaro Pais (1333-1352)
D. Vasco (1354-1367)
D. Jo\u00e3o (1367-1370)
D. Martinho de Zamora (1371-1379)
D. Pedro (1383)
D. Paio Gon\u00e7alves de Meira (1384)
D. Jo\u00e3o Afonso de Azambuja (1389-1390)
D. Martinho Gil (1391-1401)
D. Jo\u00e3o Afonso Aranha (1404-1407)
D. Martinho Gil (1407-1409)
D. Fernando da Guerra (1409-1414)
D. Jo\u00e3o \u00c1lvaro (1414-1418)
D. Garcia de Menezes (1418-1421)
D. \u00c1lvaro de Abreu (1421-1429)
D. Rodrigo (1429-1440)
D. Rodrigo Dias ou Rodrigo Diogo (1441-?)
D. Lu\u00eds Pires (1450-1453)
D. \u00c1lvaro Afonso (1453-1467)
D. Jo\u00e3o de Melo (1467-1480)
D. Jorge da Costa (1481-1485)
D. Jo\u00e3o Camelo (1486-1501)
D. Fernando Coutinho (1501-1538)
D. Manuel de Sousa (1538-1545)
D. Jo\u00e3o de Melo (1549-1564)
D. Jer\u00f3nimo Os\u00f3rio da Fonseca (1564-1577)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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D. Jer\u00f3nimo Os\u00f3rio da Fonseca (1577-1580)
D. Afonso de Castelo Branco (1581-1585)
D. Jer\u00f3nimo Barreto (1585-1589)
D. Francisco Cano (1589-1594)
D. Fernando Martins de Mascarenhas (1595-1616)
D. Jo\u00e3o Coutinho (1617-1626)
D. Francisco de Menezes (1627-1634)
D. Francisco Barreto I (1634-1649)
D. Francisco Barreto II (1671-1679)
D. Jos\u00e9 de Menezes (1679-1685)
D. Sim\u00e3o da Gama (1685-1703)
D. Ant\u00f3nio Pereira da Silva (1704-1715)
D. Jos\u00e9 Pereira de Lacerda (1716-1738)
D. Frei In\u00e1cio de Santa Teresa (1741-1751)
D. Frei Louren\u00e7o de Santa Maria e Melo (1752-1783)
D. Andr\u00e9 Teixeira Palha (1783-1786)
D. Jos\u00e9 Maria de Melo (1786-1789)
D. Francisco Gomes de Avelar (1789-1816)
D. Joaquim de Sant’Ana Carvalho (1820-1823)
D. Frei Inoc\u00eancio Ant\u00f3nio das Neves Portugal (1824)
D. Bernardo Ant\u00f3nio de Figueiredo (1825-1838)
D. Ant\u00f3nio Bernardo da Fonseca Moniz (1844-1854)
D. Carlos Crist\u00f3v\u00e3o Genu\u00eas Pereira (1855-1863)
D. In\u00e1cio do Nascimento de Morais Cardoso (1864-1871)
D. Ant\u00f3nio Mendes Belo (1884-1908)
D. Ant\u00f3nio Barbosa Le\u00e3o (1908-1919)
D. Marcelino Ant\u00f3nio Maria Franco (1920-1955)
D. Frei Francisco Fernandes Rendeiro (1955-1966)
D. J\u00falio Tavares Rebimbas (1966-1972)
D. Florentino de Andrade e Silva (1972-1977)
D. Ernesto Gon\u00e7alves Costa (1977-1988)
D. Manuel Madureira Dias (1988-2004)
D. Manuel Neto Quintas (2004-presente)<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Architecture<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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through the Centuries<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Gothic Elements (14th\u201315th Century)<\/strong>
Bell tower
Transept chapels
Ribbed vaults
Pointed arch portal
Side door\u00a0<\/p>

Renaissance Elements (16th Century)<\/strong>
Doric columns
Semi-circular arches
North fa\u00e7ade<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Baroque Elements (17th\u201318th Century)<\/strong>
Gilded woodcarving altarpieces
Polychrome tiles (azulejos)
Gilded coffered ceilings
Side chapels\u00a0<\/p>

Contemporary Elements<\/strong>
Remodelling of the presbytery (2003) by Em\u00edlia Nadal.
Liturgical adaptation following the Second Vatican Council (Post-Vatican II).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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