Igreja paroquial, adro e cemitério de Meijinhos

The Parish Church, Churchyard and Cemetery of Meijinhos (Portuguese: Igreja paroquial, adro e cemitério de Meijinhos), also known as the Church of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, is a religious ensemble in the municipality of Lamego, Viseu district, northern Portugal. It lies in the civil parish of Cepões, Meijinhos e Melcões, at roughly 41.0442 N, 7.8372 W.

What is this place?

The site combines three elements: the parish church, its churchyard (adro) and a cemetery. Portuguese heritage authorities treat them together as a single ensemble. The church serves the small village of Meijinhos in the Douro region.

What does the church look like?

The building has Romanesque origins and was altered repeatedly over the centuries. Its present form, visible above all in the layout of its openings, dates mainly from the 17th century. It is a rectangular structure made up of a chancel, which reuses the space of the original medieval temple, and a nave that ends in a narthex.

The narthex forms the main façade. It has three openings, one central and two lateral, all round-arched. A double bell tower with Mannerist pinnacles crowns the front.

What is inside?

The main highlight is the set of 16th-century mural paintings in the chancel. Surviving paintings of this kind in small rural churches are rare, and they weighed heavily in the site's recognition as a heritage monument.

Heritage protection

The church, churchyard and cemetery were classified as an ensemble of public interest (conjunto de interesse público) by Portaria 574/2011 of 6 June 2011. The classification cites their symbolic and religious value, their architectural and historical value (the church's medieval elements) and the artistic value of the rare wall paintings.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Meijinhos? In the municipality of Lamego, Viseu district, northern Portugal.

Does the church have another name? Yes, it is also called the Church of Nossa Senhora da Piedade.

What period is the building from? It has Romanesque foundations, but its current form is largely 17th-century.

What is most worth seeing? The double bell tower with Mannerist pinnacles on the façade, and the 16th-century murals in the chancel.

Is the site protected? Yes, since 2011 it has held the status of an ensemble of public interest.

Tips for visitors

Meijinhos is a small village, so it works well as part of a stay in Lamego, known for the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios sanctuary and its cathedral. Because the church is an active parish church, visitors should keep quiet and show respect for the place of worship and the neighbouring cemetery. Interior opening hours may be limited, so it is best to ask at the Lamego tourist office before travelling.