Chapel of Saint Anthony

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Leiria > Bombarral > Sanguinhal > Carvalhal

Location

Situated in the heart of Carvalhal, in the locality of Sanguinhal, municipality of Bombarral, the Chapel of Saint Anthony stands distinctly in the wide and inviting Largo de Santo António. Its isolated, yet central, positioning gives it remarkable visibility in the surrounding urban landscape. The space preceding it, a paved and fenced churchyard, creates an atmosphere of peaceful contemplation even before entering the temple.

A Historical and Family Legacy

The Chapel of Saint Anthony, as we know it today, is a late 19th-century construction, erected on the initiative of Francisco Romeiro Fonseca. However, the history of the site is older, dating back to a small chapel from 1712, also dedicated to Saint Anthony. From this primitive construction, the altarpiece with a painting on canvas, "The Visitation", dated 1867 and signed by A. C. Oliveira, still persists, currently serving as the tomb chapel of the Romeiro Fonseca family. This historical continuity gives the site a dimension of permanence and devotion throughout the centuries.

The Imposing Nineteenth-Century Architecture

The chapel features typical 19th-century religious architecture, characterized by a longitudinal plan with a single nave and chancel, and a homogeneous gable roof. Its main facade, facing southwest, stands out for its stepped plinth and central panel, delimited by ashlar quoins. Of particular interest are the two lateral bell towers, each with two superimposed square bodies. The second body of each tower has an arched belfry, and the finial is adorned with pinnacles and unique weathervanes: an angel on the left tower and a rooster on the right tower, the latter also displaying two clocks. The angular gable crowning the facade, with its stone cross and a central oculus, contributes to the harmony of the ensemble.

A Look Inside

Upon entering the chapel, one discovers an interior with decorative and structural elements that deserve attention. The single nave, with plank flooring, is covered by a plastered wooden ceiling, divided into three planes, where a central medallion with the relief figure of the patron saint stands out. The walls, up to a certain height, are covered by a wainscot of geometric pattern tiles in blue and white tones, which create a welcoming atmosphere. The choir loft, supported by two columns with plain shafts and an elegant balustrade, opens onto the nave. In the chancel, also with wooden flooring, the gilded carved altarpiece stands out, adorned with Corinthian capital columns. Two lateral tribunes, with cast iron railings ornamented with palmettes and rosettes, and a barrel vault on the ceiling, with a central medallion representing a monstrance, complete the richness of the space.

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