The scallop-shaped Church of the Pilgrim Virgin in Pontevedra

In the heart of Pontevedra stands the Church of the Pilgrim Virgin, a Roman Catholic chapel with a floor plan inspired by a scallop shell. The chapel traces its roots to an image of the Virgin brought to Pontevedra by French pilgrims. As the tradition flourished, a Confraternity was founded to care for the image, eventually leading to the construction of a dedicated sanctuary.

The Church of the Pilgrim Virgin was erected in 1778 and completed in 1792. Its circular floor plan, which takes the shape of a scallop shell when including the vestibule, incorporates the quintessential symbol of pilgrims and ends in a Christian cross. One of Pontevedra's most significant buildings, the church was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest with the category of Monument on 13 October 2011.

The main façade is preceded by an atrium with a staircase and a fountain, making up an urban ensemble of singular beauty. The building features a mixture of late Baroque and Neoclassical forms, including a dome with lunettes and a lantern, and a convex Baroque façade decorated with pilasters and Corinthian columns.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons