Category: Civil Architecture > Hermitage
District: Bragança > Miranda do Douro > Picote
Located in the parish of Picote, in the municipality of Miranda do Douro, the Ermitério Os Santos (Hermitage of the Saints) is situated within the Douro International Natural Park. Nestled in a granite outcrop near the riverbank, the site offers a serene perspective over the Douro valley and the surrounding landscape.
The hermitage stands in a remote spot, among small rocky elevations and patches of Mediterranean vegetation, which provides an atmosphere of tranquility and isolation, typical of ancient contemplative retreats.
Dated to 1553, the hermitage shelter may correspond to the chancel of a primitive chapel now in ruins, whose inscription dates back to 1596. Inside the rocky niche, fragments of hagiographic frescoes are preserved, depicting scenes from the lives of saints, executed directly on fresh mortar.
Around it, rock-cut tombs and sculptural granite vestiges are still identified, which attest to the continuity of religious and contemplative practices at the site throughout the centuries.
The Ermitério Os Santos stands out for the dialogue between human intervention and natural rock. Approaching the shelter reveals textures of ochre and white, contrasting with the green of the gorse and cork oaks that punctuate the hillside.
For visitors, this secluded spot offers a pause along the Douro International route, combining historical-artistic interest with a highly scenic setting, where the evening light accentuates the cracks and reliefs of the rock face.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eremitério_Os_Santos
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.38898569057958,-6.395173043404746
Coordinates DMS: 41°23'20.3"N 06°23'42.6"W
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