Chapel of Our Lady of Hope

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Bragança > Torre de Moncorvo > Torre de Moncorvo > União das Freguesias de Torre de Moncorvo (Sé), Souto da Velha e Trinta

Location:

The Chapel of Our Lady of Hope is located slightly away from the center of Torre de Moncorvo, erected on an elevated point that offers extensive views.

It is situated on an isolated platform, overlooking the Ribeira do Chibos valley, providing a panorama that encompasses the village of Torre de Moncorvo and extends across the Vilariça valley. Its location, which once marked the old path to the Pocinho ferry, gives it a tranquil environment conducive to contemplating the landscape.

Form and Materials

The chapel features a modest but characteristic structure. The construction is made of schist masonry, a common material in the region, with reinforcements of granite ashlar at the corners (quoins).

The building consists of a rectangular nave and a slightly elevated chancel. The entrance is protected by a porch, supported by a side wall and a pillar. The main granite portal stands out for its pointed arch shape, a typical element of Gothic architecture that suggests an older dating for the building.

At the top of the façade, above the gable of the nave, stands a simple bell-gable, topped by a cross. The nave is supported by three buttresses on its north face.

Looking at the Interior

Upon entering, the gaze falls upon the triumphal arch separating the nave from the chancel. This full-arch features relief decorations with pearl and floral motifs.

In the chancel, there is the main altar, and on the sides, two secondary altars, all worked in gilded woodwork, reflecting sacred art from periods subsequent to the initial construction. Of particular interest is a wooden image of the Virgin with the Child, believed to date from the 15th century.

Under the lime plaster covering the walls, traces of 16th-century mural paintings were discovered, including religious figures, such as that of a friar. Although currently not visible, their discovery attests to the chapel's original decorative richness.

The floor is paved with granite slabs, where various slabs with tomb inscriptions from the 17th/18th centuries can be observed. It is believed that these slabs may have been brought here from other churches in the village.

History and Devotion

Possibly dating between the 14th and 15th centuries, the Chapel of Our Lady of Hope is a testament to the religious and social history of Torre de Moncorvo.

For many years, this site was the stage for an important annual pilgrimage, held on Easter Monday (Pascoela). Inhabitants from the village and surrounding areas would travel here for moments of devotion, combined with socializing and picnics outdoors. Although this tradition has faded over time, the chapel's atmosphere still evokes its past importance.

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