Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel
District: Bragança > Alfândega da Fé > Sendim da Serra
This chapel stands on one of the highest points of Sendim da Serra, giving it a striking presence in the rural landscape. Surrounded by valleys dotted with pine forests and olive groves, it offers a privileged vantage point over the agricultural fields that stretch as far as the eye can see.
The surrounding scenery, tranquil and largely unaltered, reinforces the feeling of direct contact with nature and invites a moment of pause, while contemplating the gentle relief and the features of the rural Trás-os-Montes world.
Erected at the beginning of the 20th century, the chapel features a simple but harmonious design, highlighted by its stone facade with a perfect arch portal and voussoirs in rusticated stone. The broken curved pediment lends rhythm to the ensemble, while the central niche, flanked by engaged pilasters and crowned by a triangular pediment, emphasizes the entrance.
At the corners, granite blocks topped with pyramidions and the small bell-tower above the door add character and architectural refinement, resulting in a restrained yet well-executed example of neoclassical aesthetics in a rural setting.
The interior holds unexpected surprises: mural paintings dating from the 17th century, recently restored, illustrate biblical episodes with vivid strokes. On the left side, the meeting of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne at the Golden Gate contrasts, on the right side, with the figure of Christ Crucified flanked by Our Lady and Saint John.
The nave, covered by a barrel vault, and the chancel, with a coffered ceiling painted with scenes from the life of the Virgin, reinforce the connection between architecture and painting. From the interior balcony, it is possible to observe not only local craftsmanship but also a panoramic view that makes the visit both a cultural and a contemplative experience.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.287530564965216,-6.949721946774597
Coordinates DMS: 41°17'15.1"N 06°56'59.0"W
Weather Sendim da Serra
On-duty Pharmacy Sendim da Serra
