Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel
District: Braga > Braga > Braga > Tenões
The Chapel of the Flagellation is the fifth chapel on the Via Sacra route of the Santuário do Bom Jesus do Monte, located in the parish of Tenões, municipality of Braga. It stands on the wooded slope of the mount, at a point where the path becomes steeper and more silent. The natural environment, marked by the shade of the trees and the discreet sound of water, reinforces the spirit of recollection and introspection that characterizes the sanctuary.
With an octagonal plan and built of granite, the chapel presents a simple and solid facade, topped by a small pediment. Above the portal is the Latin inscription “APPREHENDIT PILATUS IESUM, ET FLAGELLAVIT”, taken from the Gospel of John (19:1), which translates to “Pilate apprehended Jesus and had him scourged”. The sobriety of the architecture underscores the symbolic weight of the episode, without ornamental distractions.
Inside, the sculptural group depicts Jesus Christ tied to a column, while two tormentors deliver the lashes of the flagellation. The figures, modeled with realism and expressive vigor, convey the contrast between the violence of the executioners and the resigned serenity of the Savior. The ensemble was created by the sculptor Fonseca Lapa, from Vila Nova de Gaia, whose work stands out for its dramatic sense and emotional intensity.
The Chapel of the Flagellation recalls one of the most painful moments of the Passion, when Christ, innocent, suffers the unjust punishment ordered by Pontius Pilate. The scene evokes Jesus' physical suffering and moral humiliation, becoming an invitation to compassion and contemplation of spiritual strength in the face of pain. The dimly lit interior reinforces the atmosphere of penitence and invites the visitor to a silent pause, in harmony with the profound meaning of the place.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.55454922119697,-8.379931259836406
Coordinates DMS: 41°33'16.4"N 08°22'47.8"W
