Saint Peter's Chapel

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Beja > Serpa > Serpa > Bairro Municipal

Location

The Chapel of Saint Peter stands in the town of Serpa, in the municipality of Serpa, integrated into the Municipal Quarter. It is isolated and stands out in a tree-lined square, locally known as Eira de São Pedro (Saint Peter's Threshing Floor). Its location gives it a tranquil and serene atmosphere, inviting a moment of pause and observation within the surrounding urban context.

Architectural and Chronological Testimony

This chapel is a remarkable example of architectural and artistic evolution over the centuries, displaying a fusion of styles. Its initial structure, dating from the 16th century, reveals striking elements of the Manueline style. On the exterior, the stepped buttresses supporting the walls, crowned by conical pinnacles and chamfered merlons, give the façade a distinctive character. Later, between the second half of the 16th century and the 17th century, Mannerist elements were added, enriching the interior.

In the 19th century, the complex was complemented by the addition of annex dependencies, which adjoin the main body, testifying to the successive interventions and adaptations that shaped the chapel to its current form. Despite the incorporation of erudite features, the building maintains a strong connection to the region's vernacular constructive tradition, highlighting its popular character.

The Interior and Its Mural Panels

Upon crossing the entrance of the Chapel of Saint Peter, the eye is immediately drawn to the decorative richness of its interior. The single nave, divided into three bays by diaphragm arches, features a barrel vault entirely covered with mural paintings. These works, of clear Mannerist influence, are organized into six panels with predellas, depicting figures of apostles and decorative motifs with classical-style framing.

In the chancel, of more modest dimensions and accessible by two steps, the rib vault is equally remarkable, with its blue-painted ribs contrasting with the panels filled with stylized vegetal-themed mural paintings. The side walls, both of the nave and the chancel, also display mural compositions, including one alluding to the stigmatization of Saint Francis of Assisi and the delivery of the rosary to Saint Dominic of Guzmán, and other scenes related to the life of Saint Peter, inviting a careful observation of the details.

The Main Altar and Artistic Details

The main altar, made of masonry, occupies the center of the chancel, featuring Saint Peter's emblem on its frontal. Above the altar table, a sculpture of Saint Peter is sheltered under a painted and gilded baldachin. The reredos altarpiece, made of wood, painted in shades of pink and white, is a prominent element, incorporating fragments of gilded carving. These fragments, which include vegetal elements, military trophies, and mascarons, were cleverly reutilized and inserted into Ionic columns, lending it an artistic singularity. A small crucifix complements the central composition. These elements, together, contribute to the solemn, yet also festive, atmosphere of the sacred space.

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