Chapel of Mercy of Juromenha

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Évora > Alandroal > Juromenha > Fortaleza de Juromenha

Location

The Misericórdia Chapel of Juromenha stands in the village of Juromenha, municipality of Alandroal, and is integrated into the imposing Fortress of Juromenha. Its strategic position, inside the old Rua Direita of the fortress, gives it a unique location. The chapel benefits from a privileged view, dominating a large part of the surrounding landscape and offering a wide horizon over the Alentejo.

This site is located within the protection zone of the Fortress of Juromenha, which underscores its historical and patrimonial importance in the context of the village. It is flanked by the northern wall, suggesting its intimate relationship with the fortress's defenses.

History and Memory

Built in the 17th century, the Misericórdia Chapel played a central role in the religious and social life of Juromenha, serving as a church and the seat of a confraternity. Its existence was, however, marked by a dramatic event: on January 19, 1659, the building suffered severe damage due to the explosion of the fortress's gunpowder magazine. Despite the destruction, the church was rebuilt by the end of the 17th century, a testament to its resilience and importance to the local community.

Inside, especially on the floor of the chancel and the nave, there are several tombs. One of them, in the chancel, bears an inscription dated 1674, perpetuating the memory of figures connected to the local Misericórdia, a detail that brings the visitor closer to the human history of the space.

Architecture in Ruins

Currently in a state of ruin, the chapel still reveals its original rectangular plan structure, with vestiges of the single nave and the quadrangular chancel. The walls, built of stone masonry with the typical robustness of constructions of the era, maintain a considerable height, allowing one to imagine its former grandeur.

Of the main facade, facing south, only a plastered section about 2.5 meters high remains, where a simple doorway opens, framed by stonework. Inside, remnants of the arch that once supported the choir, now gone, and the arcades that once housed the side altars can still be distinguished. These elements offer a perspective on the spatial organization of the temple and the mastery of 17th-century construction, even in its current state of conservation.

A Landscape for Reflection

A visit to the Misericórdia Chapel of Juromenha offers an experience of contemplation and reflection. Despite its environment being one of complete ruin, this aspect lends it a poetic and desolate atmosphere, inviting a deeper look into the past and the passage of time. The site, now derelict, offers a singular tranquility.

The unobstructed view over the Alentejo, from the ruins, is one of the highlights of the visit. The combination of the silence of the ancient stones with the vastness of the landscape creates an enveloping setting, ideal for those seeking a moment of introspection or to appreciate the natural and historical beauty of the Alentejo. The Misericórdia Chapel is, thus, an invitation to feel the history and nature of Juromenha.

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