Category: Religious Architecture > Hermitage
District: Beja > Serpa > Serpa > Salvador e Santa Maria
The Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe stands prominently atop São Gens Hill, a short distance from the town of Serpa. Its elevated and isolated position, amidst a rural environment, grants it remarkable visibility in the Alentejo landscape. From the walled churchyard surrounding the temple, one can enjoy panoramic views of the surroundings, marked by the tranquility and characteristic vastness of the Alentejo.
The site stands out against the horizon, offering a point of serene contemplation and allowing an observation of its grandeur and harmonious integration into the surrounding natural setting.
This religious building is a representative example of popular architecture from the Baixo Alentejo, dating back to the 16th century. Its configuration includes a narthex and a sacristy, both uniquely covered by dome cupolas, which lend a particularity to its volume. The lateral elevations are rhythmic due to stepped buttresses, and their corners are marked by pyramidal pinnacles, contributing to the solidity and visual rhythm of the structure.
The chapel imposes itself through its strong presence on the terrain, creating a powerful interplay of shapes and volumes that distinguishes it in the surrounding landscape. This architectural arrangement contributes to a striking and easily identifiable silhouette, even from a distance.
Inside, the chapel features a single nave, organized into four bays separated by perfect-arch diaphragm arches. The ceiling is a barrel vault, beginning from a cornice that runs along the walls. Immediately upon entering, on the right side, there is a stone holy water font, which displays an inscription, testimony to its history and continuous use.
Access to the chancel is through a perfect-arch triumphal arch, supported by pilasters, complemented by a step and a wooden balustrade. The chancel, also covered by a barrel vault, houses an altar and a retable of gilded and polychromed woodcarving, with a central niche, elements that lend artistic and spiritual richness to the space.
Built in the early 16th century, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe was erected with the purpose of being a pilgrimage site, maintaining this vocation to this day. Throughout the centuries, the temple was enriched with important additions, such as the bell tower and the altarpiece, both carried out in the 18th century, which contribute to its heritage and artistic value.
Devotion to Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe in Serpa is a tradition with deep roots, formalized in 1946, when the municipality was solemnly dedicated to this Virgin, highlighting the spiritual and cultural connection of the community to this sanctuary throughout time.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.929652914860434, -7.593486176656772
Coordinates DMS: 37°55'46.8"N 07°35'36.6"W
On-duty Pharmacy Serpa
