Saint Euphemia Chapel

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Coimbra > Lousã > Serpins > Covas

Location:

The Santa Eufémia Chapel stands in the Covas area, north of the village of Serpins, in the municipality of Lousã. Situated in a clearing next to agricultural land, it offers a peaceful stopping point outside the urban centre.

The terrain surrounding the chapel features herbaceous plants and a few scattered trees, creating a serene atmosphere where silence is only broken by the sounds of nature.

Historical Value:

This small rural hermitage probably dates back to the 17th–18th centuries, a period when local communities erected chapels dedicated to patron saints for local worship. Saint Euphemia, a Christian martyr, is venerated at this site through a ceramic panel located above the entrance door.

Over the years, the chapel has maintained its original design, having undergone only punctual restoration interventions, thus preserving the austerity and authenticity characteristic of popular religious constructions.

Aesthetics and Atmosphere:

The building features whitewashed walls and an old-style tiled roof, with a triangular gable topped by a stone cross. To the right of the pediment, a small bell tower with a single copper bell can be seen.

The perfect arch portal, framed in stonework, contrasts with the simplicity of the openings: small slits for interior lighting and a ceramic niche depicting Saint Euphemia.

Photographic Spot:

The contrast between the chapel's distinct facade and the wide open space around it makes this corner an interesting setting for photographic records, especially at dusk, when the whitewashed facade takes on warm tones.

Without competing architectural elements nearby, it is possible to capture the simplicity of the building and its dialogue with the surrounding rural landscape.

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