A remarkable discovery was made during restoration work on the main church of Malhada Sorda, in the municipality of Almeida, in the Guarda district. Paintings dating back to the 15th century have come to light, revealed today by the Família Luzia Esteves Pinheiro Foundation, which is overseeing the work.
15th-century paintings discovered during work on a church in Almeida
The coordinator of the restoration project, Nelson Neves, from the company N-Restaurosemphasized the importance of this discovery. According to him, what can be seen on the walls of the church is truly a treasure. "It's simply remarkable," he said as the church was opened to the public to discover the find. He called it a "privilege" to see what had been created so long ago.
"Everything we see here is of high quality, including the technique and materials used," added the expert.
Paintings depict the birth of Adam and Evea theme rarely seen in a church outside Spain, as well as an image of Saint Bartholomew. These paintings, which will be restored over the coming months, were hidden behind the altarpiece and a side altar.
Once the sacred art has been returned to its original location following restoration work on the church, the images will once again be hidden from view. However, a solution will be found to allow the paintings to be viewed once the retable is back in place.
The work on the church is being carried out by the Fundação Família Luzia Esteves Pinheiro, with the aim of restoring the building to its original state, restoring the characteristics it had when it was built and its various phases of development, as president Maria Conceição Raposo explained to the Lusa agency.
The overall project, estimated at around two million euros, includes work on both the interior and exterior, with the restoration of a side wall destroyed during the French Invasions and the rehabilitation of the bell tower.
The discovery of the paintings was "a surprise" during the course of the work. "It's a privilege for us to see what hasn't been seen for centuries," she emphasized.
The Foundation hopes that the Mass of the Body of Christ in 2025 will be celebrated in the restored main church.
