Hermitage of Our Lady of Ameal

Category: Religious Architecture > Hermitage

District: Lisboa > Torres Vedras > Ameal

Location

Situated in the locality of Ameal, in the municipality of Torres Vedras, the Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Ameal (Hermitage of Our Lady of Ameal) is found in a spacious and pleasant area. Its position, in a low-lying area known as "choupal" (poplar grove), offers a tranquil environment, between the road and a higher area on the slope of São Vicente. Opposite one of its side entrances, visitors can observe a cruzeiro (stone cross).

A Millennial Historical Journey

The history of the Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Ameal is deeply rooted, with origins so distant that tradition points to it as the first parish of the town of Torres Vedras. In the early 14th century, in 1310, Queen Saint Elizabeth founded a hospital here, Rocamador, which operated within the hermitage's premises. Decades later, in 1337, the Confraternity of Tailors (Confraria de Alfaiates) took on the mission of assisting the most needy in this same place, providing shelter and care.

Although its foundations are medieval, the architectural style we observe today results from a significant Mannerist reconstruction that took place between 1550 and 1560. Subsequently, in 1719, the hermitage underwent a new intervention, which included, among other aspects, the creation of the altar dedicated to Nossa Senhora de Rocamador.

Mannerist Architectural Features

The hermitage features Mannerist religious architecture, visible in its longitudinal plan, which incorporates a single nave and a rectangular chancel. The main portal, at the center of the frontispiece, stands out with its imposing Serlian motif, featuring Tuscan order columns topped by a triangular pediment, details that lend grandeur to the entrance. There are also lateral accesses, one through a narthex (galilee), and another directly to the nave, also decorated with Tuscan columns and urns.

Laterally, a small gable bell tower, adjoined to the nave, retains reminiscences of the medieval period of the construction, subtly contrasting with the predominance of the Mannerist style.

Artistic Heritage Inside

Upon exploring the interior of the Hermitage, a collection of artistic elements of great value is discovered. Highlights include the Mudéjar tiles that cover the wainscoting, notable for their geometric shapes and beautiful glazes, testifying to an older art from the early 16th century. The carved holy water font, of Manueline workmanship, is another vestige from the same period, complemented by an oval pink marble basin from the 18th century.

The cylindrical stone pulpit, a 16th-century work of remarkable scale, features a closed structure and square panels. In the chancel, covered by a ribbed vault in the Mannerist taste, and in the side chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora de Rocamador, there are altarpieces in gilded carving. The frontal of the main altar is also adorned with Hispano-Moresque tiles. It is worth noting that the image of São Vicente, in repainted wood, currently on the main altar, comes from the chapel of the Forte de São Vicente (Fort of São Vicente), and that a set of four 16th-century panels, which once enriched this space, are now on display at the Municipal Museum.

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