Mother Church of Casével

Mother Church of Casével
Its construction dates from the 14th century, but it was rebuilt during the 16th century.

The Igreja Matriz de Casével now stands isolated at a prominent site of the village.

Of Baroque style, it exhibits a single nave, secondary chapels and a two-sided roof.

It is said that the church was robbed of many of its precious decorations during the years it remained abandoned, such as images of saints and a gilded wood-work altar that have now disappeared.

Among the treasures that resisted the loots over the ages, the Reliquary Head of St Fabian is undoubtedly the most valuable.

It is thought that this natural-sized head, made with valuable silver and gold-plated pieces, dates from the 13th century.

Local people say it has special powers to cure cattle diseases.

The face has several parts welded together, except for the nose and the mouth that are made of a single piece.

At the top of the head, there is an aperture, as well as orifices in the ears and nostrils, and six small holes in the lips seem to express a sad smile.

It was discovered recently that it contains a human skull inside.