Chapel of Sanfins / Chapel of Saint Peter

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Aveiro > Arouca > Várzea

Location

The Chapel of Sanfins, also known as the Chapel of Saint Peter, is located in the peaceful village of Várzea, in the municipality of Arouca. It is situated in an isolated rural area, taking advantage of its elevated position on a hillside spur.

This location offers a serene setting and is flanked by a large, tree-lined square. The chapel dominates this open space, benefiting from views over the Arouca valley, which contributes to its peaceful and inviting atmosphere.

Architecture and Exterior

The chapel is an example of 18th-century religious architecture, following the Baroque style. It features a structure with a main nave and a chancel, both well-defined in their form and covered by distinct gabled roofs.

The front façade displays a solid base and is flanked by pilasters. The central portal is flanked by two small windows, all rectangular in shape with friezes and topped by curved pediments. In the upper part of the gable, an oculus with four lobes allows light to enter, and the ensemble is crowned by pyramidal pinnacles at the corners, topped with spheres, and a cross at the highest point. On the side façades, corner pilasters and pinnacles are also visible, with simple access doors and narrow windows. On the rear wall of the chancel, an engraved stone records the date 1790, along with papal symbols, an interesting historical detail.

The Interior

Upon entering the chapel, one perceives the longitudinal division between the nave and the chancel. The floor is covered with terracotta tiles. A choir-loft, with its wooden balustrade, marks the entrance space.

On the left side of the nave, there is a pulpit, whose stone base rests on a decorated corbel, although without its original protective elements or staircase. Two symmetrical arches are located in the nave, and a triumphal arch with pilasters and relief decorations precedes the chancel. This area, with granite flooring and altar, houses a wooden altarpiece painted in white and blue. The interior ceilings are particularly notable, being made of wood and configured in three polygonal planes.

Historical Notes and Use

The presence of the Chapel of Sanfins dates back, at least, to the 18th century. Historical documents from 1758 mention the existence of a pilgrimage and fair in the adjoining square, indicating that the site was already an important meeting and devotion point in the Várzea community at that time, even if participation was already referred to as having been greater in other times.

A diocesan inquiry from 1788 described the chapel as being in good condition ("perfect") and having three altars inside. The date 1790 inscribed on the rear façade suggests that significant works, perhaps the completion of its construction in its current Baroque form, were carried out around that time. The chapel has maintained its religious function from its origin to the present day.

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