Chapel of Saint Bartholomew

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Beja > Alvito > Alvito > Horta da Rosa

Location and Architecture

The chapel is located in Herdade de São Bartolomeu, about half a kilometer from the village of Alvito. It is a small building, with a nave and a square-plan chancel. It has a simple door on the main facade and large buttresses on the side walls.

Interior Details

The interior of the chapel features ribbed vaults, decorated with 16th-century mural paintings in the Manueline style. The paintings depict musical angels in the chancel and apocalyptic scenes with the Four Evangelists in the nave. Some of the original paintings can still be seen on the vaults.

Historical Vestiges

Near the chapel, vestiges of a circular structure were found, which could be an ancient apse. Walls with opus caementicium and ruins of an early Christian baptistery were also discovered nearby. These indications suggest that the site was occupied by an older religious building, possibly dating from Roman times or the Middle Ages.

History and Significance

The chapel was built in the 16th century, probably during the same period that Alvito Castle was being completed. In the past, the site where the chapel is located was occupied by an ancient village, with some importance until around 1261. The chapel ceased to have religious functions and was used as an agricultural warehouse before being classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1997.

Archaeological Works

Between 2000 and 2006, archaeological works were carried out in the chapel and its surroundings, as part of the preparation of the Archaeological Chart of the Municipality of Alvito and due to the works of the canal between the Odivelas Dam and the Alvito-Pisão Aqueduct. During these excavations, human osteological materials were found, indicating the use of the site as a burial area.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capela_de_São_Bartolomeu_(Alvito)

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