| ( Behind the Town Hall ) In 1560, Gómez Pérez das Mariñas e Xunqueiras decided to build a completely new temple suitable for the town of O Caramiñal, which was distant from the parish placed in O Xobre. The apse dates back to the 16th century, but the construction of the nave went on until the 18th century. In 1702 O Caramiñal becomes an autonomous parish. It is composed of a central nave of great capacity, a rectangular chancel, and a sacristy. In the 20th century a side nave was added. The old central nave has five sections separated by huge semicircular arches that rest on inner buttress. This nave was covered once by a coffered ceiling made of wood. The chancel is covered by a beautiful vault with articulated ribs and flowered keystones. The exterior main façade and the apse are specially relevant. The apse stands out for its special robust architecture, with buttress placed at the angles- to hold the high pressure made by the big vault-, the packed decoration used in the gargoyles, in the cornice and in the coat of arms. The façade, in spite of being far from the rich baroque decorative style, has a beautiful front wall. Two pilasters standing on pedestals hold wood planking and a triangular main wall. At the tympanum of the main wall, we find a figure of the Virgin and the images of the apostles Pedro and Pablo. Above, there is a small rose window with a lattice followed by a coat of arms of the promoter, which is highly effective. The Temple preserves a worthy collection of altarpieces from the 18th and 19th centuries. But among them it is remarkable the presence of an altarpiece from the 17th century, which stands out for the high quality of its images and the richness of its decoration. It is a pity that these pieces of art have still not received the deserved attention and care from the technical experts on restoration. Parish: O Caramiñal Place: A Pobra do Caramiñal Century: 16th-18th | |