Chapel of Our Lady of Health

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Aveiro > Ílhavo > Gafanha da Encarnação > Costa Nova

Location:

Situated in Costa Nova, the Chapel of Our Lady of Health is close to the sandy beach and the sea, located in the urban area of this well-known locality in the municipality of Ílhavo.

Its position in Costa Nova allows visitors to feel the peculiar atmosphere of the area, marked by its proximity to the lagoon and the ocean.

Origins and History:

The history of the Chapel of Our Lady of Health is intimately linked to the growth of Costa Nova, first as a fishing community and then as a summer resort. The need for a closer place of worship for the fishermen, locally known as 'companhas', and for the first bathers who frequented the beach, led to the founding of an initial wooden chapel around 1822 or 1824.

However, with the development of the area, that structure became insufficient. The chapel we see today was erected in 1890, representing a response to the growing population and visitors of Costa Nova at the time. Its construction was driven by the support of the fishing 'companhas' and community alms.

Devotion and Community:

This chapel is a testament to the deep faith of the Costa Nova community, particularly of the fishermen, traditionally organized into 'companhas'. Devotion to Our Lady of Health has always been very strong, seeking protection and giving thanks for received graces, with the Divine being an essential part of the daily lives of these people.

Since its foundation, the chapel has been the center of the annual celebration of the feast in honor of the patroness, a moment of great religious and social importance that gathers devotees and visitors in Costa Nova.

Architecture and Atmosphere:

The Chapel of Our Lady of Health features simple characteristics of 19th-century religious architecture. It is a building that reflects the functionality and devotion of the era in which it was built to serve the local community and its visitors.

Its seaside location gives it a particular ambiance, where the Atlantic breeze seems to be part of the local atmosphere, inviting a moment of reflection and contemplation, with the sound of the sea as a backdrop.

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