Sanctuary of Our Lady of Vagos

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Aveiro > Vagos > Vagos > Vagos e Santo António

Location

Situated in Vagos, this sanctuary is nestled within a particularly serene surrounding area. It is set in a pleasant green space, close to the channels that define the landscape of the Ria de Aveiro. Its location invites a moment of pause and reflection, offering a distinct tranquil environment within the village.

Origins and History

The history of this place of worship dates back to ancient times. It is known that the ecclesiastical patronages of the region, including Santa Maria de Vagos, were controlled by the king as early as the beginning of the 13th century. There are records of land and property donations to the local church, with a letter from D. Sancho I, dated 1200, being the oldest known reference to the hermitage of Santa Maria de Vagos and its salt marshes.

Although the original location of the first hermitage is uncertain, popular belief points to a site where ruins of a 12th-century tower still exist today. However, the church at the current location dates back to the 16th century, having undergone a significant renovation in the 19th century, with the bell tower added in 1960.

Art, Image, and Architecture

The sanctuary houses elements of artistic and architectural interest. Particularly noteworthy is the image of the patroness, Nossa Senhora de Vagos (Our Lady of Vagos), a 14th-century limestone sculpture that originally had polychromy. The image measures approximately 1.20 meters.

Inside, the main altarpiece, dating from the last quarter of the 19th century, combines polychrome carving with elements from an earlier altarpiece. Near the main arch, there are corbels with images of Saint Agnes and Our Lady of Fátima. The nave walls were clad in 1988 with tiles from the Amarona Factory in Ílhavo.

Devotion and Tradition

The Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora de Vagos is an important center of Marian devotion in the region, with a cult deeply rooted in the local community and neighboring areas, such as Cantanhede. The image of the Lady is surrounded by ancient legends of miracles, dating back to the late 12th century, which attribute powers to her, such as being the only piece rescued from a coastal shipwreck and having cured the faithful.

This strong devotion motivated pilgrimages throughout the centuries, a tradition that remains alive today and is associated, for example, with the distribution of the "bodo" (charitable meal/offering). A gravestone in the sanctuary pays homage to Estevão Coelho, a devotee who left a significant inheritance to Nossa Senhora de Vagos, testifying to the depth of faith that this place inspires.

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