Chapel of São Gens

Category: Religious Architecture > Hermitage

District: Évora > Redondo > Redondo > São Gens

Location

The Ermida de São Gens is situated in a unique setting, atop an isolated hill in the São Gens area, near the locality of Redondo. Its elevated position makes it stand out in the landscape, offering a rural and tranquil environment around it. It is surrounded by a walled churchyard, partly paved with tiles, which reinforces the sense of a separate space, dedicated to contemplation and silence.

Origins and Devotion

The history of the hermitage dates back to the early 16th century, the period in which it was built. Over the centuries, it established itself as a place of worship and pilgrimage. The hermitage is also known by other names, such as Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, reflecting the devotion associated with it. In the 18th century, the bell tower and the altarpiece were added, enriching its heritage.

Architectural Features

The building presents a popular religious architecture typical of the Lower Alentejo region from the 16th century. Its robust forms stand out, with articulated volumes that include the main body of the church, a narthex at the entrance, and an attached sacristy. Notable are the dome-shaped roofs covering the narthex and the sacristy, a distinctive element of the construction. The lateral facades are rhythmically punctuated by stepped buttresses that give a solid appearance to the ensemble, finished at the corners by pyramidal pinnacles.

The Ermida's Interior

Upon entering the hermitage, one finds a single nave, divided into sections by perfect round arches. The interior ceiling is a barrel vault, rising from a cornice. Immediately to the right of the entrance, there is a holy water font made of stone, where an inscription can be observed. Access to the chancel is through a triumphal arch, also a perfect round arch, resting on pilasters. The chancel is also covered by a barrel vault and houses an altar with a carved altarpiece, once gilded and polychromed, with a niche in the center.

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