Chapel of Memory

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Leiria > Nazaré > Nazaré > Sítio da Nazaré

Location:

The Chapel of Memory stands in the Sítio da Nazaré area, an elevated part of the town of Nazaré. This hermitage is uniquely positioned on the edge of an imposing cliff, offering views of the surrounding landscape. Its prominent location in the Sítio gives it a striking presence, standing out in the urban landscape.

The Legend of its Foundation:

The construction of the Chapel of Memory is intimately linked to an ancient tradition, dating back to the year 1182. The narrative tells that D. Fuas Roupinho, while hunting, pursued a deer towards the edge of a precipice. Upon realizing the imminent danger of a fall, he invoked the Virgin Mary. Unexpectedly, his horse miraculously stopped, preventing the tragedy. As a gesture of gratitude for being saved, D. Fuas Roupinho is said to have ordered the construction of this chapel at the site of the miracle.

Architectural and Decorative Elements:

The Chapel of Memory features unique architecture, with a square base plan and a pyramidal roof. The exterior of the chapel is adorned with tile panels, notably one above the door, displaying the coat of arms of Portugal. Above this, a small stone aedicule, with Gothic-style elements, houses a low-relief representation of Our Lady of Nazaré, flanked by kneeling figures. On the wall overlooking the cliff, another tile panel evokes the miracle associated with D. Fuas. The pyramidal roof is entirely covered with tiles and is crowned by a calvary with a stone cross. Inside, the walls and vaults are covered with tiles from the early 18th century. On the pyramidal vault, a central panel depicts the Phoenix, a symbol of hope, and other panels that symbolically compare the virtues of the Virgin Mary to the characteristics of various plants.

The Grotto of Memory:

This chapel was built over a natural grotto, a place of historical and religious significance. It is believed that, during the period of Muslim rule, this grotto served as a refuge for the ancient image of the Black Virgin, Our Lady of Nazaré. Although the grotto was initially walled up and forgotten over the centuries, it was rediscovered at the end of the 16th century. Nowadays, visitors can observe the entrance to this grotto, where a niche displays a replica of the image of Our Lady of Nazaré. A local tradition reports that access to the deeper part of the grotto was sealed off due to mysterious incidents that occurred in the past.

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