Hermitage of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Category: Religious Architecture > Hermitage

District: Faro > Vila do Bispo > Budens

Location and Importance

- Located in Raposeira, municipality of Vila do Bispo, near the road to Lagos.

- One of the most important historical monuments in the Algarve.

- Linked to Infante D. Henrique (Prince Henry the Navigator) and the voyages of Discovery.

- Classified as a National Monument since 1924.

History and Construction

- Built in the 15th century, possibly originating from an older building.

- Architecture in Gothic and Late Gothic style.

- Survived the 1755 earthquake, being one of the oldest religious temples in the Barlavento Algarvio (western Algarve).

- Linked to the cult of Our Lady of Guadalupe, important in the history of Christian religion and pilgrimages.

Architecture and Features

- Simple and robust building, with a single nave and buttresses.

- Main door in an ogival arch, decorated with faces and sculpted cords.

- Asymmetrical rose window on the main facade and stone cross at the top.

- Chancel with ribbed vaulting and capitals decorated with vegetal and animal elements.

- Simple baptismal font in limestone, decorated with crosses and lines.

- Attached interpretive center, dedicated to local history and heritage.

Religious Use and Festivities

- Still used for religious celebrations.

- Main festival in February, dedicated to Our Lady of Candeias (Candlemas), with a candle procession.

- Ascension Thursday: blessing of the corn stalks and livestock.

- Tradition of pilgrimages, especially in times of drought.

Curiosities and Events

- Reports indicate that Infante D. Henrique prayed in this hermitage.

- Used for cultural events, such as plays, concerts, and exhibitions.

- Sculptures and decorative elements may be linked to the rescue of Christians captured by Muslims.

- The current altar is modern, replacing the original Gothic one.

- The building has undergone several restoration works over the centuries, including recent interventions for conservation.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capela_de_Nossa_Senhora_de_Guadalupe_(Raposeira)

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