São Clemente (Loulé)

Mother Church of Loulé

São Clemente is a Portuguese civil parish (freguesia) in the municipality of Loulé.

The church of St. Clemente (Portuguese: Igreja Matriz de São Clemente) is the oldest and most important church in Loulé. It dates back to the second half of 13th century. The Church built in Gothic style consists of three naves, divided by Gothic arches supported by narrow columns. The side chapels are from 16-17th centuries. Located across the church is Jardim dos Amuados which is an old Arab Muslim cemetery.[1]

The St. Clemente Church bell tower is the oldest part of the church. It dates back even further to the period of Muslim Moor rule in Portugal. It was the original minaret of a former mosque and used for issuing the Islamic prayer call (Adhaan) five times a day for faithful to come to the mosque for congregation prayers. It is one of the very few remaining Moorish minarets and mosque structures in Portugal.[1]


Historical buildings

See Also

Reference

  1. 1 2 "LOULÉ". algarvetips.com. Retrieved 1 October 2018.

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