Calvary Chapel

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Castelo Branco > Belmonte > Belmonte > Belmonte e Colmeal da Torre

Location

The Chapel of Calvary is located in Belmonte, in an area that rises within the urban landscape, positioned halfway up a slope. It is accessible from Largo de Santo António, by ascending a flight of steps that overcome the terrain's unevenness and lead to its small forecourt. Its location grants it particular visibility within the local context.

Exterior Architecture

Externally, the chapel features a simple and elongated form, with visible and worked granite masonry facades. The main facade stands out for its gable configuration, topped by a cornice and surmounted by a Latin cross. The entrance portal is pierced by a pointed arch, characteristic of the Neo-Gothic Revival style associated with its 19th-century construction.

A distinctive element is the iron door, divided into two leaves, whose surface is adorned with reliefs representing the instruments related to the Passion of Christ, such as ladders, the spear, the rod with the sponge soaked in vinegar, the pliers, the hammer, and the crown of thorns.

The Interior

Upon entering the chapel, one's gaze is met with a unique space whose walls retain exposed granite masonry. The floor is concrete, and the painted wooden ceiling follows a trough-like shape. In the center of the interior space, there is a pictorial representation evoking the theme of the Lamentation over the body of Christ. A large white-painted cross also dominates the ambiance.

On the back wall, the scene of Calvary is recreated through a small artificial granite mound. Upon this mound, stands the image of the Crucified, flanked by two smaller wooden crosses. In the corners of this final space, two altars built of granite stone are observed.

Origins

The construction of the Chapel of Calvary likely dates back to the 19th century. Its architectural style, combining Neo-Gothic Revival elements, reflects the trends of the era. The chapel was conceived for religious use, with the particularity of staging the site of the crucifixion, Calvary, within its interior, thus conferring upon it a devotional and symbolic purpose centered on the Passion of Christ.

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