Chapel of Our Lady of the Cape

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Lisboa > Oeiras > Algés > Núcleo Urbano Histórico de Algés

Location

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Cape is located in the heart of the Historic Urban Core of Algés, an area that preserves the oldest identity of this locality in the municipality of Oeiras. Its position in what was once called Algés de Cima or Alta de Algés, at a time when urbanization was scarce and the population was mostly dedicated to agriculture, gives it a particular setting and a perspective on the evolution of the territory.

Its Historical Roots

Although the exact date of its construction remains a mystery, the presence of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Cape in Algés has been documented since the 18th century, confirming its antiquity. It is known that it already existed before the great Lisbon earthquake of 1755, a seismic landmark that profoundly transformed the region. The initiative for the construction of this hermitage is attributed to Luís Tomé, a local devotee, before the year 1747.

Devotion and the Sea

The cult of Our Lady of the Cape, with roots in the 13th century, is intimately linked to a legend of miracles that occurred at Cabo Espichel. In the 17th century, a Confraternity of Our Lady of the Cape was established, which came to encompass several parishes in the region, including Carnaxide, to which this chapel belonged. Given that Algés historically had a strong connection to the sea and a fishing population, it is probable that the local devotion to Our Lady of the Cape was somehow connected to the famous sanctuary of Cabo Espichel, once visible from this chapel before contemporary urban development.

A Local Heritage

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Cape is recognized for its historical and cultural value, being classified as a Municipally Valued Property. This distinction underlines its importance in the heritage of Oeiras, representing a unique element that testifies to the history of the Algés community and its traditions of faith throughout the centuries.

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