Draft:Our Lady of Grace Augustinian Friary, Tavira

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On the Rua Dom Paio Pere (see Paio Peres Correia), the erstwhile Church and Convent of Our Lady of Grace is on the right bank of the River Gilão.

Introduction

The old building was restored in 2006, and converted into a 36-room historic guesthouse (Pousada do Convento da Graça). Archaeological conservation was supervised by Drs Sandra Cavaco and Jaquelina Covaneiro, working for the town council. Access is from the hotel’s bar.

The convent’s church has been converted into a multi-purpose function room.

Illustrating church interior

Still visible are some of the decorations.

Photo of church column decoration

Photo of decorated church arch

In 2012 the building was classed as a Monumento de Interesse Público (Monument of Public Interest)

History

This site came into the hands of the Discalced Augustinian Friars in 1542, funded by King John III.

Austin friary

Under Prior Pedro de Vila Viçosa, the Augustinian friars began building their new convent without delay. The convent was extended in around 1568, under Friar João de S. José

Photo of Augustine Order heraldic badge

Friar Valentim da Luz

Ten years earlier, in 1558, a new Friar had been sent to the convent: Valentim da Luz. Within two years he had been appointed as the convent’s Prior.

On 15 June 1560 Maria de Meneses lodged a complaint. She named witnesses, and they were called to testify. Other complaints were collected. The testimony was forwarded up the Holy Inquisition’s chain of command. A trial took place, he was convicted of heresy and handed over to the appropriate authorities. He was duly burned alive at Ribeira de Lisboa on Sunday 10 May 1562.

School

By 1575, the convent had grown in importance. It was here that the new bishop of Silves, Jerónimo Osório, duly founded a School of Moral Theology, Sacraments and Canon Law.

Bishop Jerónimo Osório was in the vanguard of reform.

Nineteenth century

In 1837, three years after the end of the Liberal Wars, and the enforced closure of religious orders in Portugal, the building was taken over by the army. It became quarters for the Fifth Battalion of Hunters. Thereafter the place was known as Quartel da Graça (Grace Barracks).

On 8 December 1872, local people stoned the barracks, protesting against a newly introduced change to the law regulating measurement of volume, the Revolt of Measures. The military opened fire, killing some of them. The Military Unit was commanded by Colonel José António de Sousa Chagas. At Tavira Judicial Court, presided over by Dr. Leocádio Maria Anderson, he was found guilty of excessive self-defence. Colonel Chagas appealed, with the result that he was summarily dismissed. It came out in evidence that there had been six deaths, all caused by bullets. Most had been too far away from the barracks for them to have seriously harassed the soldiers with stones.

Meanwhile, the church was used as a garage and repair shop. Much of the original furnishings and decoration was ruined. Early in the 20th century, with more modern accommodation available at Atalaia barracks, the military unit moved out. The building remained a small military hospital until finally decommissioned after the recent Portuguese revolution. The building was left derelict until 2003. In the interim it came into the hands of the Tavira Town Council (Câmara Municipal de Tavira - Município de Tavira).

13th century findings

Reflecting Tavira in the era of the Almohad Caliphate are remains displayed just beneath the hotel’s bar. The dig in 2006 had extended under what is now covered over by the bar and swimming pool.

Tavira Castle tower from hotel swimming pool

Photo of curtain wall

Moorish construction

It is evident there were more than thirteen houses, some with central patios or an additional chamber. Surrounding a central uncovered patio would have been other chambers, functioning variously as living room, bedroom, toilet or kitchen. These dwellings seem to have varied with regard to flooring, whether stone, ceramic tiles, beaten earth or lime mortar. The quality of mortar used to cover the walls also varied.

Findings from excavation 2006

Above shallow foundations traces of masonry walls have been found. Upper work would have depended on ‘’tapia’’ : mud mixed with lime and stones. Some roof tiles were discovered on the ground in the houses and also in a room in House 1.

The original structure of some of the rooms appears to have altered, perhaps indicating change in use.

Moorish construction

These ruins from when the Almohad Caliphate had charge of Tavira resemble those unearthed also in Cacela Velha, Silves and Mértola. Typical features include a public area: residential buildings around three public thoroughfares, about 1.6 metres wide. These would have accommodated communal services, such as drainage. Drains appear to have been of standard width, with stone lids and sides. Each house had a channel to direct away foul- or storm-water. Respectively, these ran to septic tanks or more sizeable public drainage. Differing from the septic tanks that have permitted comment at Syasa, or at the battlement walkway of House X in Mértola, these ones at Tavira seem to have been actually retained indoors.

Findings from excavation 2006

The archaeological investigation here in 2006 uncovered ceramics indicating Tavira had traded with Lisbon, Seville, and Montelupe in Italy. Commerce had also implicated the Valencian Region (Paterna, Manises) and the Kingdom of Granada. Whether arrived by sea or land, materials dating to this period, of North Alentejo origin, have also come to light.

Remains of pottery

Various pottery

Architectural interest

This building’s impact is substantial, not least because of its proximity to the town’s main square, but also by virtue of its massive façade.

Façade of convent church

The astonishingly well preserved stonework of church and convent dramatically present a masterclass in the architecture of Renaissance, Mannerism, Estilo Chão (an austere style coming into vogue in the early sixteenth century), and Baroque (mid-seventeenth to early nineteenth centuries). Said to have been one of the earliest two-storey buildings in the entire Algarve Province, its architecture is considered the town’s best exemplar of Baroque. Compared with other Algarve convents by Diogo Tavares de Ataíde, this is one of the most striking. The church itself reveals elements of the Renaissance, Mannerist, and Baroque. The quadrangular cloister reflects Renaissance, round arches opening onto a central court, with columns and capitals pointing to workmanship of the highest quality.

Cloisters

Unusual trumpet-shaped rainwater drainage

The convent building is mostly Baroque, two towers harmoniously framing its lower main body. Decoration focuses on its large monumental and pleasing façade. The large windows and, in particular, their carved frames, reveal sculpture of quality. The staircase is Baroque.

Baroque staircase 1549

Baroque interior arch