Chapel of Good News or Chapel of Our Lady of Good News or Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Assumption of Good News

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Évora > Alandroal > Terena (São Pedro) > Boa Nova

Location

- Parish of Terena (São Pedro), municipality of Alandroal, district of Évora.

- Part of the Archdiocese of Évora.

Classification

- National Monument since 1910.

History and Significance

- Ancient Marian sanctuary possibly linked to the Christianization of pagan cults, near the ruins of the temple of the god Endovelicus.

- Referenced since the 13th century in the "Cantigas de Santa Maria" by Alfonso X of Castile.

- Construction from the 14th century, a rare example of a church-fortress in Portugal.

- Name associated with the legend of Dona Maria, Queen of Castile, who supposedly received good news in the location, giving rise to the title "Boa Nova" (Good News).

Cultural Importance

- Site of a large annual pilgrimage in the first weekend after Easter.

- Easter Monday is a municipal holiday in the municipality of Alandroal due to the importance of the pilgrimage.

Exterior Architecture

- Church-fortress with a cruciform plan, built in granite.

- Facades with porticos of Gothic arches and medieval loopholes.

- Defensive balconies with stones bearing the Portuguese royal coat of arms.

- Bell tower added in the 18th century.

- Originally under the patronage of the Order of Avis, later of the Counts of Vila Nova.

Interior of the Temple

- Wide and simple nave with a Greek cross plan, with Gothic vaults.

- 19th-century decorations with murals by Silva Rato.

- Masonry pulpit from the same period.

- Side altars of São Brás and Santa Catarina with 18th-century gilded carvings.

Presbytery

- Vault with fresco paintings of the kings of the first dynasty and scenes from the Apocalypse of Saint John.

- Mannerist altarpiece from the 16th century with beautiful panels representing religious events such as the Annunciation and the Resurrection of Christ.

- Image of Our Lady of Boa Nova (Good News) with the Child Jesus in prominence.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santuário_de_Nossa_Senhora_da_Boa_Nova

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