Its construction was started in 1675 by order of the Marquês de Marialva, D. António Luis de Meneses, subsequent to a vow made during the Battle of Montes Claros. It was part of the Provincia de Santo António and took on the dedication of Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Our Lady of the Conception).
The external façade of the building is very sober, with a depressed arch followed by a small atrium which corresponds with the high choir on the inside. The wall-piers of the façade are made of rusticated stone, positioned to the left of the bell tower, which is of more recent construction.
The date 1733 appears in a niche in the façade, which probably indicates the date the building was finished.
The interior consists of a chancel and nave with four altars, two of which are parallel: one is dedicated to Nossa Senhora das Dores, on the Gospel side and the other, dedicated to Santo António, on the Epistle side, where there is also the Senhor da Cana Verde altar. The main chapel has an altarpiece with polychromatic retable and the walls are lined with panels of narrative tiles representing scenes of Our Lady´s life.
At the entrance of the church there is a sculpture of the first Marquês de Marialva, where you can read:
"AQVI ESTA SEPVL/TADO O CORPO DO MAR/QVEZ DE MARIALVA.D. / ANTÓNIO LVIZ DE MENE/ZES QVE FALLECEO EM 19 /DE MAIO DE 1675 PE/DE A PIEDADE CHRISTAN / HVM PADRE NOSSO I / HVMA AVE MARIA PE/LA SVA ALMA?".
Rua Dr. António José da Silva Poiares
Cantanhede