Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Leiria > Bombarral > Roliça > Azambujeira dos Carros
The Hermitage of Azambujeira dos Carros, also known as the Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, is located in the urbanization of Azambujeira dos Carros, in the locality of Roliça, within the municipality of Bombarral. It stands out prominently on a street with a slight incline, benefiting from a small elevated churchyard. This space, accessible by staircases all around, gives the hermitage a notable presence in the urban fabric.
Right in front of the hermitage, there is a curious detail to observe: an old ash tree, carefully protected by a wall. Next to it, a tile panel invites contemplation with poetic verses dedicated to the tree itself, creating a tranquil environment with a touch of local culture.
This 18th-century chapel, with its compact structure and simple lines, is an example of the religious architecture of the period. Its facades, plastered and painted white, feature a prominent plinth and are reinforced by large buttresses on the sides, lending it solidity. On the main facade, a rectangular stone portal and a small bell tower with its bell, which rises from one corner, complete the exterior image.
The interior of the hermitage, though single-nave, reveals a careful composition. It features a high choir, supported by two columns, and a wooden ceiling organized into three distinct planes. Its original construction dates back to the 18th century, with the first mass being celebrated in 1742, as noted on a tile panel. Over time, the space benefited from conservation interventions, namely in the 1980s and in 1997, the latter with the support of the local community and the Bombarral Municipal Council.
Inside the hermitage, the azulejaria (tilework) is a decorative element of particular interest. The nave is covered with a wainscoting of monochromatic pattern tiles, in shades of blue on white, of industrial production. In the chancel, a dado of polychrome tiles adds a note of color, beneath a false wooden barrel vault.
The richly worked gilded main altar is the focal point of the chancel. It is organized into three axes, highlighting at the center the image of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira on her throne. In the lateral axes, niches house the images of Our Lady of the Conception and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Two gilded corbels, with torch-bearing angels, flank the altar, contributing to its beauty. It is also important to note, on the back wall of the sub-choir, a tile panel that perpetuates the memory of the 1997 restoration.
Since its foundation, the hermitage has played a central role in the religious life of Azambujeira dos Carros. It is a continuous place of worship, maintaining its function as a parochial chapel. Its history is intimately linked to the dedication and effort of the community, which over the centuries has watched over its preservation and restoration.
Annually, on August 15th, the hermitage becomes the stage for the celebration of its patron saint's feast, Nossa Senhora da Oliveira. This event not only reinforces local faith but also underscores the strong sense of belonging and unity that the community of Azambujeira dos Carros nurtures for this heritage of theirs. The hermitage thus represents a living testimony to the devotion and identity of a people.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.2889704,-9.1921953
Coordinates DMS: 39°17'20.3"N 09°11'31.9"W
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