The Igreja Matriz de Santiago do Cacém (; Mother Church of Santiago do Cacém) is a 13th century church, of the invocation of Santiago Maior, located in the town of Santiago do Cacém, Portugal.Cf. «Santiago do Cacém», in ALMEIDA, José António Ferreira de. Tesouros Artísticos de Portugal. Lisboa : Seleções do Reader's Digest, 1976, pp. 505-506.Património arquitetónico religioso de Santiago do Cacém.
History The church, attached to the castle of Santiago do Cacém, was founded in the 13th century by the Order of Santiago. It has undergone several reconstructions over the years. The ogival side portico, in Roman Gothic style, has capitals with zoomorphic decorations, the vaulted high choir and the high relief with the representation of St. James.«Igreja de Santiago, matriz de Santiago do Cacém», in AA. VV. Património arquitetónico e arqueológico classificado : inventário, vol. III. Lisboa : Instituto Português do Património Arquitetónico e Arqueológico, p. 17. do capítulo referente ao distrito de Setúbal.FALCÃO, José António; PEREIRA, Fernando António Baptista. O alto-relevo de Santiago combatendo os mouros da Igreja Matriz de Santiago do Cacém. 2ª ed., rev., corrig. e aument. Beja : Departamento do Património Histórico e Artístico da Diocese; Santiago do Cacém : Câmara Municipal, 2001.
Recovery Without permanent worship, the church was saved from ruin by the Department of Historical and Artistic Heritage of the Diocese of Beja. They promoted a vast campaign of rehabilitation works, carried out with the collaboration of the Directorate General of National Buildings and Monuments (1993-1996), and then ensured its maintenance and regular opening to the public, under the patronage of a Safeguarding Commission, founded in 1993, which acts in cooperation with the municipality.
It is part of the Network of Museums of the Diocese of Beja.MANGUCCI, Celso. Guia dos Museus do Alentejo. Beja : Turismo do Alentejo, 2010, p. 74.
Classification The church is classified as a national monument.Cf. Decreto de 16 de junho de 1910 e Decreto n.º 8518, de 30 de novembro de 1922.
Tesouro da Colegiada de Santiago The church houses the Tesouro da Colegiada de Santiago, the core of the Museum of Sacred Art de Santiago do Cacém, founded in 2002.Tesouro da Colegiada de Santiago.
Bibliography FALCÃO, José António (dir.). Entre o Céu e a Terra: Arte Sacra da Diocese de Beja (Catálogo da exposição). 3 vols., Beja : Departamento do Património Histórico e Artístico da Diocese de Beja, 2000
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