Parish Church of Santa Maria Mayor (Church of the Virgin Mary) is located in the historic city of Chaves, near Praça de Kamoensh. In 1997 the temple was listed as a monument of national importance.

It is a beautiful building built in the XII century Romanesque style. The church is decorated with an elegant portal and the bell tower is crowned. Following the reconstruction works in the XVI century, which completely changed the appearance of the church, the building also acquired - were completed two beautiful portal. They are made in the style inherent to the Renaissance: clear lines, round arch supported by small columns and broken, a triangular pediment is crowned with arch. Blame the side of the portal, which is decorated with carved busts of St. Peter and St. Paul, attributed to the sculptor Joao Noble, who was known for his special style of decorating - grotesque.

Like many medieval religious buildings inside the temple consists of three naves, which are separated by powerful columns. Home chapel was rebuilt in the second half of the XVI century. The top of the bell tower is decorated with a statue of Jesus Christ, and the upper part of the facade is decorated with a statue of the other - the Virgin Mary. The ascetic appearance of the temple inside attach routine, without any ornaments, stone walls.

It is worth noting that the first documented record of the Church of the Virgin Mary dating back to 1259 year. There is also a suggestion that the church of the Virgin Mary was built on the site of the ancient Visigoth temple. Unfortunately, the medieval bell tower of the church survived only and portal building.