Hermitage of Saint Peter

Category: Religious Architecture > Hermitage

District: Évora > Portel > Portel > Miradouro de São Pedro

Location

The Hermitage of Saint Peter is located at the summit of the Serra de Portel, an elevated point offering a wide view over the Alentejo rural landscape. Situated in an isolated plateau area, its setting provides a serene environment, far from urban bustle. The hermitage complex is divided into two distinct levels: the space of the older hermitage, accessible by a staircase, and that of the more recent hermitage, set on a platform with a tiled floor, where a cross stands.

A Legacy of Pilgrimage

The site of the Hermitage of Saint Peter is a testament to local faith and history, having long been an important pilgrimage center. The presence of a brotherhood dedicated to Saint Peter was already felt around 1500, indicating the antiquity of the cult in this place. The older hermitage, sometimes referred to as a "grotto," is shrouded in a tradition that points to the appearance of the patron saint's image precisely at this spot, adding a symbolic dimension to the visit.

Distinct Architecture

This complex is unique for being composed of two distinct hermitages. The older one features a circular plan, unusual for the period, with a compact structure and exterior pilasters culminating in pyramidal pinnacles. Inside, the space is unique and circular, with blind arcades. The main hermitage, built in 1624 and subsequently remodeled in the 17th and 18th centuries, adopts a longitudinal plan. Its façade is marked by a three-arched porch and a bell tower, notable for the ashlar stone framing the portal.

Artistic Richness of the Interior

The interior of the more recent hermitage reveals a remarkable Baroque decorative campaign from the 17th and 18th centuries. In the nave, the barrel-vaulted ceiling is richly ornamented with colorful stucco and scagliola, featuring trompe l'oeil pilasters. The triumphal arch, preceding the chancel, is adorned with gilded carving displaying naturalistic elements and symbols of the patron saint. The chancel is one of the highlights of the visit, with its hemispherical vault entirely covered by detailed fresco murals, illustrating nine moments from the life of Saint Peter, captioned in archaic Portuguese. The gilded main altarpiece and the figurative paintings on the side walls complement this environment of great artistic expressiveness.

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