Chapel of Our Lady of Piety

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Faro > Tavira > Tavira > Vila-A-Dentro

Location:

Located in the historic area of Vila-A-Dentro, in Tavira, the Chapel of Our Lady of Piety stands next to the old City Gate (Porta da Vila), one of the main accesses to the medieval city. Its placement in the vicinity of the Gilão River and near the old Praça Fountain gives it an urban setting of patrimonial value. The building is situated in a small square, at the intersection of Rua dos Pelames and Rua de Gonçalo Velho, surrounded by a network of typical narrow streets of the old town.

Historical Context

The chapel was built in 1758, integrating into the religious and urban reconstruction process of the city after the 1755 earthquake. It is associated with the Confraternity of Our Lady of Piety, which promoted the cult of the patron saint there. Throughout the 20th century, it underwent punctual interventions, such as the replacement of the original wooden flooring in the 1980s.

Architecture and Features

The building features a rectangular plan and a single nave, with an additional volume to the north, accessed by two interior arches. The main façade, facing west, is marked by a reverse-curved pediment and a stone portal, with a tympanum decorated by a burning heart pierced by a dagger, a traditional symbol of the Sorrows of Mary.

At the top of the façade, an elliptical oculus stands out, providing the only direct illumination to the interior. A small bell tower, with discreet lines, rises in the northwest corner. Inside, the space is covered by a barrel vault and decorated with a gilded altarpiece, dating from the second half of the 18th century, in a late-Baroque style.

Image and Devotion

At the center of the main altar is a full-relief sculpture representing Our Lady of Piety, evoking the moment Mary holds the body of Christ after the crucifixion, a theme of strong symbolic charge in Christian iconography. The chapel also once had a painting of the Holy Family, which is currently missing.

Atmosphere and Presence in the City

Despite its modest size, the chapel maintains a striking presence within Tavira's urban fabric. Its tranquil setting, next to one of the old entrances to the walled city, contributes to an atmosphere of contemplation and remembrance. The simplicity of the space contrasts with the decorative details of the altarpiece, creating a balance between sobriety and religious expressiveness.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ermida_de_Nossa_Senhora_da_Piedade_(Tavira)

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