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Chapel of Saint Anthony

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Faro > Castro Marim > Castro Marim > Zona Histórica

Location

The Chapel of Saint Anthony stands in a prominent position, atop the hill known as Rocha do Zambujal, in the locality of Castro Marim. Its location makes it a natural viewpoint, offering a wide view of the surrounding landscape, namely the Castro Marim Marshland and the mouth of the Guadiana River. The site is located within the Historic Zone of Castro Marim, an area rich in remnants of the past, and is integrated into the Revelim de Santo António, an old fortification.

Brief History and Context

The construction of the Chapel of Saint Anthony dates back to the 17th or 18th centuries, a period of significant expansion for the town of Castro Marim, which extended beyond its medieval walls. Although there is no official document to prove it, its construction is traditionally associated with King D. João IV. This chapel was erected in the context of the Portuguese Restoration War, integrated into the Revelim de Santo António, a U-shaped bastioned defensive structure. The existence of this fortification contributed to Castro Marim's military importance in the Algarve during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Architecture and Exterior

With a style that combines Mannerist and Baroque elements, the Chapel of Saint Anthony features a longitudinal plan. Its main facade, facing west, is notable for its stone-framed wooden portal, surmounted by a curved pediment and topped by a quadrangular window. The quoins and some exterior decorative elements are painted in a dark blue tone, contrasting with the whitewashed walls. On the north side, there is a double-arched bell tower, while the chancel is topped by a domed roof, giving it a characteristic silhouette.

Interior Treasures

Upon entering the Chapel, visitors are met with a single nave, covered by an elegant barrel vault. The side walls are lined with painted wooden wainscoting, simulating marble and framing panels with paintings alluding to the life of Saint Anthony. On the nave floor, there are two sepulchral gravestones, including that of Domingos Martins Mascarenhas, dated 1772. Next to the triumphal arch, which marks the transition to the chancel, there are two side altarpieces, dating from the mid-18th century, adorned with painted carving and dedicated, among other figures, to Our Lady of the Conception.

The chancel, a more elevated space, features a barrel vault ceiling decorated with painted wooden coffers, which illustrate more scenes from the life of the patron saint. The 18th-century main altarpiece is a work of art structured into five sections, defined by pseudo-Solomonic columns. In its central niche, it houses an image of Saint Anthony with the Child in his lap, dating from the 19th century. This artistic ensemble, though of modest means, reveals the richness of devotion and religious art in the region.

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

Coordinates DD: 37.2160909,-7.4391409
Coordinates DMS: 37°12'57.9"N 07°26'20.9"W

Weather Castro Marim  Weather Castro Marim

Monday, 04
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Tuesday, 05
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Wednesday, 06
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Thursday, 07
Broken clouds
24° | 34°
Broken clouds
Friday, 08
Clear sky
21° | 34°
Clear sky

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