Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel
District: Faro > Tavira > Tavira > Santa Maria e Santiago
The Chapel of São Sebastião is located in the parish of Santiago, in the city of Tavira, near the Atalaia Barracks.
The construction date of the chapel is not precise, but there are records of its existence since 1723. It is believed that the sacristy is what remains of the original chapel, with simpler decoration compared to the rest of the chapel.
In 1745, the chapel underwent a reconstruction carried out by stonemasons Diogo Tavares de Ataíde and Manuel Aleixo, which cost 600$000 réis. The carpentry work was awarded to Jacinto Pacheco, from Tavira, for the amount of 580$000 réis.
In 1759, with the income from the land of the Fair of S. Sebastião reverting to the Brotherhood of the Church of S. Sebastião, it was possible to commission the painter Diogo Magina to paint the main altarpiece, in addition to ten panels representing scenes from the life of the Saint and two upholstered torch-bearing angels next to the chancel arch. The chapel has an exuberant Baroque decoration, with faux marble on the walls and paintings along the single nave.
The chapel was considered a "Property of municipal value" on 29-09-1977. In 1993, it was closed and in a state of abandonment, being restored only in 2007. Currently, the chapel is used as a musical auditorium and is open for tourist visits.
The chapel houses a series of ten paintings that depict the life of Saint Sebastian, being considered the most complete pictorial recreation about the Saint in Portuguese art.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capela_de_São_Sebastião_(Tavira)
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.12237044,-7.64706156
Coordinates DMS: 37°07'20.5"N 07°38'49.4"W
Weather Tavira
On-duty Pharmacy Tavira
