Hermitage of Saint Anthony

Category: Religious Architecture > Hermitage

District: Évora > Évora > Évora > Bairro das Espadas

Location

The Hermitage of Santo Antonico is located within the urban area of Évora, in the Bairro das Espadas. Its positioning gives it particular visibility, being isolated on a corner plot. In front, a stone cruzeiro (stone cross), set on elevated steps, stands out, complementing the local landscape and marking the presence of the hermitage in this predominantly residential neighborhood. The tranquility of the surroundings offers a suitable environment for a contemplative visit.

Origin and Historical Legacy

This hermitage, also known as the Hermitage of Santo António, dates back to the second half of the 17th century, with its construction starting in 1657 and being completed in 1660. It was a project driven by local devotion to Saint Anthony, funded by a group of faithful led by João Nunes Ribeiro. Since the celebration of its first mass in March 1660, the hermitage has remained a central point of the community's religious life, maintaining throughout the centuries its original function as a place of worship and, more recently, as a mortuary chapel, bearing witness to the faith and traditions of Évora.

Architecture and Artistic Details

The Hermitage of Santo Antonico features a proto-baroque architectural style, characteristic of its era. Its longitudinal plan is simple, composed of a square-shaped nave and a tripartite chancel. On the exterior, the main facade stands out with its axial portal, surmounted by an oval oculus and an epigraphic inscription recording the history of its foundation. The nave's hip roof and the bulb-shaped bell tower, with its bell, give it a peculiar silhouette in the urban landscape.

Upon entering, one discovers a sober interior with elements of great value. The nave has a conical dome, and the walls, once, featured a painting imitating marble, demonstrating attention to aesthetics. The pulpit, with its railing, is a noticeably prominent element. The focal point is, without a doubt, the main altarpiece, in gilded and polychrome carved wood, richly ornamented with Solomonic columns and vegetal motifs, which evoke the iconography of Saint Anthony, inviting careful observation and admiration for the mastery of the artisans of the time.

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