Senhora do Carmo Square

Category: Nature > Park

District: Braga > Vila Nova de Famalicão > Landim > Burgo

Location

The Largo Senhora do Carmo is situated in the parish of Lemenhe, one of the most significant reference points in the municipality of Vila Nova de Famalicão. This square surrounds the Marian Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Carmo, a prominent historical and religious presence in the region. Its location lends it an atmosphere of tranquility, characteristic of a space linked to devotion and the local community.

Origin and Legend

The history of this place dates back to the year 1560, the year of the sanctuary's foundation. Its origin is shrouded in a popular legend that narrates the discovery of an image of the Virgin among rocks, on Monte da Água Levada, by a traveler. Tradition has it that, after the image mysteriously disappeared and reappeared several times at its original location, the people of Lemenhe decided to build a chapel there. Initially known as Nossa Senhora da Água Levada, and later as Nossa Senhora da Encarnação and Nossa Senhora da Graça, the devotion to Nossa Senhora do Carmo was consolidated in 1745, shaping the identity of the sanctuary and the square.

Architecture and Devotion

The Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Carmo stands out for its structure, with a stone high altar that integrates allegorical images dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This construction was erected with the support of alms, from both local residents and neighboring and distant communities, including those from the coastal area. The square, as the area surrounding the sanctuary, benefits from periodic arrangements and requalifications, such as those carried out in 2009, which aim to preserve its aesthetics and functionality for visitors and participants in celebrations.

Legacy and Community

The Largo and the Sanctuary are the center of a living tradition, maintained by brotherhoods and confraternities, such as the Brotherhood of Nossa Senhora do Carmo, reformed in 1745 with the institution of the scapulars. The Confraternity of Nossa Senhora do Carmo de Lemenhe, established in 1660, has played a fundamental role in the preservation and development of this place of worship. Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel spread rapidly throughout the region, making it one of the oldest images of adoration and a meeting point for the community and devotees.

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