Chapel of Our Lady of Health of Cabeçais

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Aveiro > Arouca > Fermedo > Cabeçais

Location

In Fermedo, Arouca municipality, stands the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Saúde (Our Lady of Health) in the locality of Cabeçais. This chapel stands out due to its location on a slightly elevated platform in relation to the street. To reach it, one ascends a staircase that spans the entire width of the main facade, giving it a notable presence in the surrounding area.

History and Origins

Although the current construction dates from the early 20th century, there are records of a chapel existing on this site as early as the late 17th century. Originally, the temple was dedicated to Saint Anthony. A notable detail is the date of 1777 inscribed on the lintel of the side sacristy door, which indicates an intervention or the construction of that specific part at the time.

Over time, local devotion shifted to Nossa Senhora da Saúde (Our Lady of Health), who became the chapel's patroness. In the early 20th century, the previous chapel was in ruins, leading to a substantial reconstruction, completed in 1905, which gave rise to the structure we see today. It is known that the primitive chapel was commissioned by the lord of the land, whose coat of arms was present on the front. This legacy remains visible in the shield adorning the pediment of the main facade, which combines the arms of Portugal with those of the Pereira family, former benefactors.

Architectural Features

The chapel features a simple rectangular plan, with a single main body and a laterally attached sacristy. The main facade is marked by pilasters at the ends and features a portal with a curved stone lintel. Above this portal, a rectangular window illuminates the choir loft, flanked by a continuous frieze.

The upper gable of the facade culminates in a triangular pediment decorated with the historic shield and topped by a cross. Two small bell towers, or bell gables, rise above the upper corners of the main facade, adding a distinctive touch to its silhouette.

Upon entering, one finds the choir loft resting on granite corbels, accessed by a spiral metal staircase. The interior also includes a pulpit with its wooden staircase and parapet. The walls feature an azulejo wainscoting, and the floor is tiled. The area of the main altar is elevated by steps and separated by a wooden railing, housing a white-painted carved altarpiece. The internal ceiling is polygonal in section, stuccoed.

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