Chapel of Our Lord of Rua Nova

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Bragança > Freixo de Espada à Cinta > Lagoaça e Fornos > Rua Nova

Location

Located in the village of Fornos, part of the parish of Lagoaça e Fornos, in the Trás-os-Montes municipality of Freixo de Espada à Cinta, the Chapel of Senhor da Rua Nova is situated in a central point of the village. It is set in a serene square, known as Largo do Santo Cristo, at the top of the street that gives it its alternative name, Rua Nova. This public space, paved with traditional Portuguese cobblestones, creates a welcoming and genuine atmosphere, serving as a place of meeting and tradition for the local community.

Memory and Tradition

Also known as Santo Cristo Chapel, this remarkable example of religious architecture is a property of public interest, bearing witness to the region's history and faith. Its construction dates back to the 18th century, with an inscription on the bell tower indicating the year 1743, marking its probable completion. Historical accounts from the 18th century indicate that the chapel played a fundamental role in community life, being used for burials and its management entrusted to the residents themselves. To this day, the Chapel of Senhor da Rua Nova keeps its connection with local traditions alive, annually hosting, on the first Sunday of September, the main festivities in honor of its patron saint, filling the square with an atmosphere of celebration and devotion.

Architecture and Materials

The chapel features a quadrangular plan with a single nave, presenting a compact and predominantly horizontal volume. Its facades, painted white with grey details, are marked at the corners by Tuscan pilasters, culminating in pyramidal pinnacles. The main facade is one of its most distinctive elements, with a gable that rises and is truncated by an elegant bell tower. The latter, with a perfect arch, houses the bell and displays the date 1743. A straight lintel portal, surmounted by an interrupted volute pediment, invites entry, revealing the simplicity and beauty of the 18th-century construction, where granite masonry plays an essential role in the structure and decorative details.

Interior Details

Inside the chapel, the single nave leads the eye to the barrel vault that covers the space. This is uniquely ornamented with twenty coffers, whose gilded frames enclose what were once mural paintings depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ. Although time and humidity have affected these representations, it is still possible to glimpse fragments of biblical passages such as the "Kiss of Judas" and "Ecce Homo," which lend notable artistic and historical value to the environment. At the chancel, the main altarpiece, in polychrome and gilded carving, is a central piece of great interest. Dedicated to Santo Cristo, its tribune features an evocation of Calvary, with a panoramic view of the city of Jerusalem painted in the background. Angels flank the altar, holding phylacteries, and its attic includes attributes of Christ's martyrdom, enriching the religious significance and artistic expressiveness of the temple.

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