Chapel of Saint Anthony

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Guarda > Pinhel > Freixedas

Location

The Chapel of Santo Antão is located in the vicinity of the village of Freixedas, in the municipality of Pinhel, Portugal. Positioned in a slightly isolated manner, next to a public road paved with granite cobblestones, the chapel benefits from a calm environment. It is surrounded by a churchyard, a walled space of granite masonry, which elevates and protects it, providing a serene transition between the road and the religious building.

Marks of Time

The origins of the Chapel of Santo Antão conjecturally date back to the 17th or 18th centuries, marking a lasting historical presence in the landscape of Freixedas. In 1758, it was already registered in the Parish Memoirs, being then referenced as heritage belonging to the local population itself. More recently, in 1984, the main portal of the chapel underwent intervention, as per the date inscribed on its door, demonstrating the continuous care and maintenance that this modest, yet significant, temple has received over the centuries.

Architectural Simplicity

The Chapel of Santo Antão displays a vernacular religious architecture, characterized by its simple longitudinal plan and a single interior space. Its facades, plastered and painted white, are highlighted by prominent cornerstones and frieze and cornice finishes, all in granite stonework, which imparts a touch of sobriety. The main facade, facing west, features a portal with a round arch and a stonework frame, and at its top stands a floriated Latin cross and pyramidal pinnacles. Interior illumination comes from a rectilinear window cut into the right side facade, which directs light to the main altar area.

A Serene Refuge

The churchyard of the Chapel of Santo Antão, accessible via an iron gate and a few steps, offers a tranquil outdoor space, paved with compacted earth with a central cemented corridor leading to the portal. This setting, slightly set apart from the urban center, invites a moment of quietude and reflection. Although the interior of the chapel is not open for observation, its solitary presence and its peri-urban environment convey a sense of peace, making it a point of interest for those seeking tranquility and the essence of the region's religious heritage.

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