Our Lady of Grace

Category: Religious Architecture > Wayside Shrine / Niche

District: Leiria > Alcobaça > Casal da Areia

Location

The Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Graça is situated in the tranquil locality of Casal da Areia, which is part of the municipality of Alcobaça. Although set within an urban environment and surrounded by houses, the chapel maintains a certain isolation, offering its own space. It is preceded by a small churchyard, an inviting square paved with traditional Portuguese calcário white and pink cobblestones.

Brief History

With its origins in the 16th century, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Graça was initially built as a hermitage. Over the centuries, the site has witnessed significant transformations. Historical records indicate that a friars' convent may have existed in this area in the past. More recently, the building underwent important interventions, with a comprehensive refurbishment in 2003 that updated both its exterior and interior. In the 20th century, a clock was added to its frontispiece.

Architecture and Exterior

Observing the chapel from the outside, its simple longitudinal plan stands out, with distinct bodies forming the nave and the chancel. The facades, largely plastered and painted white, reveal exposed stone masonry in the lower part, which demarcates the original dimensions of the building. The frontispiece features a chamfered gable, where the arched bell-gable rises, topped by a Latin cross. A porch supported by cylindrical columns welcomes those approaching the main portal, and a Greek cross window surmounts this porch. On the left side facade, a ramp facilitates access, designed for people with reduced mobility. Various lighting and access openings, with rectangular stonework frames, open into its walls. The rear facade displays a translucent dial clock and bifid windows.

The Interior and Its Elements

Inside, the single nave is presented in light shades of white, complemented by a frieze of industrial blue and white tiles that runs halfway up the walls. The floor is paved in marble, and the ceiling has a three-plane wooden covering. A curved high choir, with its wooden balustrade, stands out at the entrance. The perfect-arch triumphal arch is adorned with blue and white tiles depicting Christ, and leads to the chancel, a higher space accessed by three steps. On the back wall of the chancel, a shell-shaped niche housing the image of the patron saint stands out, flanked by pillars and corbels with other images, and topped by a large cross with the crucified Christ. A circular opening on the Epistle side holds the tabernacle.

The Details of the Churchyard

In addition to the religious space of the chapel, the small churchyard that precedes it deserves special attention. Its pavement of Portuguese cobblestones, with its patterns in white and pink limestone, invites a moment of pause and contemplation. Near the entrance, there are pots and an informative plaque about the site's refurbishment. At the far end of this square, a simple crucifix stands, with a quadrangular base and a smooth shaft, topped by a Latin cross. Nearby, a rock with an informative plaque and a niche that once belonged to the main altar, bear witness to the history and transformations of this space. Elements such as a millstone and tanks transformed into planters enrich this outdoor environment, lending it a serene and inviting atmosphere.

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