Chapel of Saint Anthony

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Madeira > Ponta do Sol > Ponta do Sol > Volta da Forca

Location

The Chapel of Santo António is located in the town of Ponta do Sol, situated within an urban context. It stands in a slightly elevated position, next to the Casa dos Azevedos, where municipal services are housed. Access to the chapel is via a staircase leading to a forecourt. This outdoor space is paved with rolled pebbles, a traditional material of the region.

Origins and Historical Journey

The original construction of the Chapel of Santo António dates back, according to historical indications, to the 17th century. The building as it stands today is, in part, the result of significant reconstruction and conservation carried out in the 1990s. This intervention sought to preserve the chapel's original planimetry, maintaining its main design.

Exterior Architecture

The chapel features a simple structure and Mannerist religious architecture, with a longitudinal and rectangular single-nave plan. On the main facade, facing west, a stone portal stands out with a perfect arch, adorned by a frieze and cornice. Above the portal, there is a window also made of stone. The gable, with its pronounced angle, is topped by a Latin cross. Laterally, the sacristy is adjoined. The construction is robust, using local stone and covered with half-round tiles.

The Interior of the Chapel

Inside, the chapel reveals a welcoming atmosphere with wooden elements on the floor and ceiling, the latter with its visible timber structure. It features a high choir, also in wood, accessible by a staircase. Near the entrance, there is a holy water font in marble, with a discreet quadrifoliate flower relief. The altar area is slightly elevated by two steps. The highlight is the main altarpiece, in late-Baroque style, decorated with painted carving in shades of grayish-blue, pink, green, and gold. The altarpiece incorporates columns, corbels for images, and various floral motifs. The sacristy, accessible from the nave, maintains its wooden floor and ceiling lining.

A Space with New Life

Although its initial and current use is referred to as religious, the Chapel of Santo António also functions, in practice, as a cultural space. It is frequently used as an exhibition hall by the local municipality. This adaptation allows the building to continue playing an active role in community life and to be accessible to the public, providing a historical context for various artistic and cultural manifestations.

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