Chapel of Saint Anne

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Bragança > Bragança > Oleirinhos > Sé, Santa Maria e Meixedo

Location

Located in the municipality of Bragança, in the village of Oleirinhos, the Chapel of Santa Ana stands on an isolated hill, northeast of the village of Meixedo, in the union of parishes of Sé, Santa Maria, and Meixedo. This elevated position offers an atmosphere of remarkable tranquility, away from the hustle and bustle, and allows for wide perspectives over the surrounding Trás-os-Montes rural landscape.

Historical Journey and Devotion

The history of the Chapel of Santa Ana most likely dates back to the 17th or 18th centuries, having been a place of profound devotion ever since. Already in 1758, it was referenced as an important center of faith in the region, where the image of Santa Ana was venerated by many who visited it, especially on the saint's dedicated day. Over the centuries, the space was adapted and expanded, as suggested by an inscription dated 1906 on one of the façades, highlighting its continuous evolution from a rural chapel to a recognized pilgrimage sanctuary.

Architecture and Surrounding Environment

The chapel exhibits simple religious architecture, with a rectangular plan, composed of a single nave and a narrower chancel. Its façades, plastered and painted white, give it a characteristic simplicity and luminosity. On the main façade, notable features include pilasters at the corners, crowned by pyramidal pinnacles, and a graceful bell tower with a perfect round arch housing the bell. The entrance is sheltered by a porch supported by two columns, whose Portuguese pavement (calçada à portuguesa) displays an inscription referring to interventions carried out in 2008.

Inside, the white walls and curved wooden ceiling create a welcoming and serene atmosphere. The most prominent element is the main altarpiece, in polychrome baroque carving, adorned with vegetal motifs and columns with smooth and twisted shafts, framing a central niche. In front of the temple, a wide open space extends, flanked by trees, such as chestnut trees, inviting rest. This space is complemented by several stone tables and a cruzeiro (stone cross) that stands on a three-step base, with its granite Latin cross marking the highest point, from where the view extends into the immensity of the Trás-os-Montes landscape.

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