Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel
District: Leiria > Ansião > Pousaflores > Serra da Portela
The Chapel of the Guardian Angel is situated at the highest point of the Serra da Portela, known locally as Serra do Anjo da Guarda. It is located next to a stone cross, in a small paved area with rustic pebbles, which invites a brief pause before continuing the walking route.
From the top of the mountain, the surroundings offer a panoramic view of the Pousaflores valley and the neighboring elevations, including the Serra de Rabaçal and, on clear days, glimpses of the Serra de Alvaiázere. Access is via dirt tracks that wind through thickets of thyme, kermes oak, and strawberry trees.
The chapel was erected in the 20th century in honor of the Guardian Angel, the symbolic patron of the local Christian community. The popular devotion to this figure motivated the construction of the small temple and gave rise to the designation adopted for the entire mountain range.
Over the decades, the place has been the scene of religious ceremonies, notably the celebration of the Way of the Cross during Holy Week. This reenactment, which involves several stations distributed throughout the mountain, reinforces its character as living memory and a meeting point between faith and landscape.
The building has a simple design, with whitewashed masonry and traditional ceramic tile roofing. The facade is punctuated by a perfect arch portal and a small window adorned with wrought ironwork.
Inside, the altar displays the image of the Guardian Angel on a carved wooden plinth, flanked by two wrought iron lamps. The exterior combines cobblestone with patches of spontaneous flora, thyme, rockroses, and elderberry, which lend aroma and color to the space.
This high point of the mountain provides a sense of tranquility, with the horizon cut by silhouettes of cypress trees and rolling hills. The sound of the wind passing through the kermes oaks and the occasional song of mountain birds accentuate the contemplative character of the place.
Around, there are occasional streams that feed aromatic herbs, creating small damp patches where insects and small amphibians gather. For those who value nature observation, the chapel is a privileged viewpoint to follow the cycle of the seasons and the nuances of light throughout the day.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.87256597533381,-8.399251641041703
Coordinates DMS: 39°52'21.2"N 08°23'57.3"W
Weather Pousaflores
On-duty Pharmacy Pousaflores
