Morro de Santa Tecla

Category: Nature > Reserva natural

District: Braga > Braga > Braga > Bairro Novo

Location:

The Morro de Santa Tecla is located in a singular area of the Bairro Novo, in Braga. This area is considered one of the oldest nuclei of the parish, offering a glimpse into the local urban history. It is in this setting that the Chapel of Santa Tecla is situated, flanked by the imposing Casa da Quinta de Santa Tecla, whose entrance is marked by a monumental gate, inviting a journey through a piece of the city's memory.

Architecture and Exterior Sculpture:

The Chapel of Santa Tecla presents itself as a construction that is externally simple and graceful, of modest dimensions. At its top, a cross rises, once adorned with an image of Saint John the Baptist. One of the most notable points is an elegant female figure in granite, darkened by time, mounted on a horse that serves as a pedestal. This piece of sculpture, due to its remarkable quality, arouses interest, and despite the lichens that cover it, its beauty is still perceptible. Some scholars, such as Albano Belino, suggest that the image may represent Saint Tecla, although the absence of traditional attributes, such as the lily and lions, raises debate about its true identification.

Interior Transformations:

The interior of the chapel reflects changes over time, not retaining its original elements. In the early 1920s, a significant alteration was made: a grotto, constructed of cork and housing the images of the Virgin of Lourdes and Bernadette, was installed in the place that once occupied the main altar. This innovation, very fashionable in Braga in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, involved the removal of a baroque altarpiece that was presumed to be of excellent quality and national style.

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