Chapel of Our Lady of the Conception

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Braga > Póvoa de Lanhoso > Rego

Location

Situated in the locality of Rego, in the municipality of Póvoa de Lanhoso, the Chapel of Our Lady of Conception is located in a deeply rural environment. It stands on a small plateau, surrounded by agricultural fields that stretch around it, providing a tranquil, nature-bound landscape. Its position offers a glimpse into the characteristic Minho environment, inviting a serene pause.

Architecture and Exterior Aspect

This chapel, whose construction dates back to the 17th century, features religious architecture of Baroque inspiration, albeit with sober lines and a single nave. Its main facade, plastered and painted white, is topped by a simple bell-gable, which stands out at the apex of the gable. Above the entrance portal, one can observe a coat of arms, a family crest that, unusually, was repurposed from an old tomb, linking the building to lineages and its founders.

The Interior and Its Details

Upon entering the chapel, one discovers a space with plastered walls painted in a green hue, an interesting contrast to the exterior's simplicity. The wooden ceiling is one of the most notable elements, displaying masseira-style paintings with religious and vegetal motifs. On the granite slab floor, a tombstone can be seen in the center and, next to one of the side walls, niches housing sepulchral chests, some with inscriptions, which tell the history of families whose destinies, over the centuries, were linked to this place.

Traces of a Singular History

The construction of the Chapel of Our Lady of Conception results from a rich and somewhat peculiar chronology, initiated at the end of the 16th century. Its origin dates back to the will of a priest from Guimarães who left instructions for the erection of a chapel and for the reinterment of his and his relatives' remains. After various adventures and disputes that led to the displacement of the tombs to different places of worship, it was finally in the 17th century, next to Quinta da Mota, that the decision was made to build this temple. This troubled history gives the chapel a particular historical and cultural value, bearing witness to family wills and legacies that resisted time and disagreements, culminating in the creation of this private devotional space.

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