Hermitage of the Mother of God

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Açores > Vila Franca do Campo > Vila Franca do Campo > Bairro do Carneiro

Location

The Chapel of the Mother of God is located in the picturesque Vila Franca do Campo, on the island of São Miguel, Azores. It is specifically found in the Bairro do Carneiro, an urban area that allows visitors to integrate into the local life of the town.

Its location in the heart of the locality, along Rua do Visconde da Palmeira, makes it a point of interest that can be discovered while exploring the streets and the peaceful atmosphere of Vila Franca do Campo.

Memory and History

This small temple, of profound significance, served the nearby communities for a long period as a funerary chapel, a place of worship and homage to those who departed. Its existence is, therefore, intrinsically linked to the social and religious history of the town.

The chapel was integrated into public heritage in December 1984, through a donation to the Vila Franca do Campo Municipal Council. This gesture, carried out by the family of Manuel Inácio de Melo, is marked on a tile panel on the chapel's facade, a detail that evokes their memory and the family's generosity.

Architectural Elements

The Chapel of the Mother of God is characterized by its compact dimensions, which give it a unique and welcoming atmosphere. Its construction is notable for the predominance of basalt stone, a typical and abundant material on the island, which gives the structure robustness and a striking visual appearance.

The basalt stone masonry work, visible across its entire surface, is an example of local construction technique. This architectural feature not only provides durability but also harmoniously integrates it into the landscape and the style of traditional Azorean constructions.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt