Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mileu

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Guarda > Guarda > Guarda > Sé e São Vicente

Location

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mileu is located north of the city of Guarda, in an area of gentle slope and at an elevation slightly above the public road. Its position, within the urbanisation of Sé and São Vicente, offers a tranquil environment, set apart from the city's hustle and bustle. The site is surrounded by a granite masonry wall, forming a partially grassed enclosure, with some trees and stone benches, ideal for a moment of pause.

A Multi-Secular History

This sanctuary is a place with a history deeply rooted in time, bearing witness to the passage of various eras. Its Romanesque construction, dating back to the 11th to 13th centuries, is built upon even older vestiges, including structures of a Roman villa and possibly Visigothic roots. Over the centuries, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mileu established itself as an important landmark on the ancient pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela.

Interestingly, in medieval times, between the 13th and 14th centuries, the site housed "emparedadas", women who lived in voluntary reclusion, dedicated to prayer and penance, and also a hostel for pilgrims, underscoring its role in the region's hospitality and spirituality.

The Architecture and Its Details

The sanctuary's architecture is revealed in its Romanesque forms and the signs of transition to Gothic. With a rectangular plan, composed of a nave and chancel, the chapel stands out for its exposed granite ashlar facades. The main entrance, facing west, is marked by a double-arched and perfect-arch portal, surmounted by a circular rose window with geometric decoration.

One of the most notable elements of its construction is the corbel table that runs along the top of the facades, displaying singular decorative richness. Here, a variety of motifs can be observed, ranging from phytomorphic elements to fantastic animals and human figures. Inside, the triumphal arch, with its pointed profile, and the capitals supporting it, adorned with vegetal, zoomorphic, and anthropomorphic elements, showcase the mastery of the late-Romanesque artisans.

Vestiges and Symbols

Beyond the chapel itself, its perimeter houses other elements of historical and symbolic value. In the churchyard, there is an 18th-century cruzeiro (stone cross), with its stepped platform and a Latin cross with trefoil arms, enriched by engraved geometric elements. On the west wall of the old cemetery, one can observe "alminhas" (small shrines for souls) in granite ashlar, believed to result from the repurposing of a Visigothic tomb, featuring a niche and an incised cross. Its proximity to the Mileu archaeological site reinforces the ancestral importance of this location, which continues to preserve and reveal layers of history and faith that shaped the Guarda region.

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