The President of the Government of the Azores visited today the Church of Santa Bárbara classified as a National Monument, located on São Jorge Island, which was recently recovered with a regional investment of about half a million Euros.
 
"This intervention has greatly improved the church, not only by renewing the building and providing it with better conditions as a place of worship, but also by restoring and dignifying its status as a National Monument," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
Speaking to journalists on the third day of the statutory visit to São Jorge, the President of the Government pointed out that, with the restoration works, it was possible to turn the church into a privileged space for cultural promotion. According to him, this an important factor for job creation and wealth generation in the community of Manadas.
 
The Church of Santa Bárbara, located in the village of Manadas, municipality of Velas, is an important part of the island's heritage that includes wood carving works and tile panels as well as paintings and sculptures.
 
Classified as National Monument since January 1950, this church has undergone conservation and restoration works involving several phases, beginning with an intervention in the nave ceiling; it presented serious structural problems that could endanger the entire church interior.
 
Afterwards, the works comprised other elements, including the ceiling of the main chapel, the altarpiece, the main altar and the church tabernacle.