Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Castelo Branco > Penamacor > Pedrógão de São Pedro > Pedrógão de São Pedro e Bemposta
The Chapel of the Holy Spirit is located in the village of Pedrógão de São Pedro, part of the Union of Parishes of Pedrógão de São Pedro and Bemposta, in the municipality of Penamacor.
It is situated in the center of the locality, in one of its main squares, in an area with a slight slope. Its central position is integrated into the oldest part of the village.
This religious building features a simple rectangular plan, constructed of masonry and granite stonework, which remains visible in some elements, such as the quoins. The roof is gabled, extending with a single slope over the sacristy, which is adjoined to the left side.
The main façade, facing west, is topped by a gable. In the center, a perfect arch portal opens, its molding having a chamfered edge. Above the portal, an inscription with the date 1694 is visible. On the right side of this façade, the gable becomes horizontal and, above a cornice, a simple bell tower rises, with a full arch where the bell rests. At the top of the bell tower, a Latin cross stands out, and on the tower itself, an old and partially erased inscription where the date 1517 can be glimpsed.
Inside, the walls are plastered and painted white, contrasting with the shale floor. The ceiling is particularly interesting, being a homogeneous wooden trough-shaped covering, retaining the original support beams on the end walls.
One of the most prominent elements is the main altarpiece, located on the back wall. This altarpiece of gilded carving, in a Mannerist style, is composed of a straight structure with a central axis, defined by two pairs of twisted columns profusely decorated with vegetal motifs. In the central panel, the Pentecost is depicted, while in the attic, at the top, a vertical tablet with the representation of a Calvary appears. Above the base of the altarpiece, there is the tabernacle in the form of a small temple, with twisted columns and, on the door, the image of the Agnus Dei. Near the entrance, on the Epistle side, there is a cylindrical holy water font made of granite stonework.
The history of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit is long and relevant to the locality. Ancient documents, dated 1320, point to its existence as the matrix church of the then Order of Christ. The dates inscribed on the building, 1517 on the bell tower and 1694 on the portal, suggest different phases of its construction and remodeling, with the 1694 date probably associated with significant works and the creation of the main altarpiece.
Throughout the centuries, the chapel played an important role in the religious life of the community, even holding the Blessed Sacrament in the 18th century. Its conservation and care were historically linked to the local population, in part through a brotherhood dedicated to the Lord, which demonstrates the deep connection between the building and its inhabitants.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.0674496,-7.211275
Coordinates DMS: 40°04'2.8"N 07°12'40.6"W
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