Chapel of Memory or Chapel of Our Lady of Nazaré

Category: Religious Architecture > Hermitage

District: Leiria > Nazaré > Nazaré > Sítio da Nazaré

Location

Located in Sítio da Nazaré, village of Nazaré, municipality of Nazaré, district of Leiria, Portugal.

Classification

Property of Public Interest since 1993.

History

, Built in 1182 over a grotto that housed the image of Our Lady of Nazaré, a Black Virgin breastfeeding the Baby Jesus.

, Associated with the figure of D. Fuas Roupinho and the Legend of Nazaré.

, Originally, a simple porch with open arches, later walled up and decorated with sculptures (now disappeared).

Architectural Features

, Square plan and pyramidal roof.

, Sides measuring four and a half meters wide by three meters high.

, Tiles with the arms of Portugal above the door.

, Stone aedicule with Gothic decoration and sculpture of Our Lady of Nazaré.

, Tile panel on the south wall recalling the miracle of D. Fuas.

Interior

, Divided into two floors, covered with tiles from the early 18th century.

, Upper floor with altar and tiles dated 1702, slabs with the history of the image and representation of the Phoenix in the pyramidal vault.

, Lower floor with panel representing the miracle of D. Fuas and access to the entrance of the grotto where the image was kept from 711 to 1182.

Grotto of Nazaré

, Discovered in the 16th century by Friar Bernardo de Brito.

, Local tradition about mysterious disappearances in the grotto.

, Currently, only the entrance to the grotto is visible, with a replica of the image of Our Lady of Nazaré displayed in the niche.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ermida_da_Memória_(Nazaré)

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