Chapel of Saint John the Baptist

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Portalegre > Nisa > Nisa > Arez e Amieira do Tejo

Location

The Chapel of Saint John the Baptist, also known as the Castle Chapel, is located in the heart of the historic Amieira do Tejo, a locality in the municipality of Nisa. Situated within the walls of Amieira Castle, this chapel is integrated into the barbican of the fortification, highlighting its deep connection to the military complex that houses it.

To access this space, visitors ascend a stone staircase that starts from Praça D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, revealing its strategic position and offering an interesting perspective of the village's urban surroundings.

Historical Memory

Although there are references to the presence of a primitive Chapel of Saint John as early as the 14th century, the current structure was built or significantly reconstructed in 1556. This date is visible on the main facade, where the Latin inscription "Joanes est nomen eius" (John is his name) can be read, a testament to its 16th-century foundation or renovation.

Throughout the centuries, the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist maintained its religious function, serving as a central place of worship for the local community and for those who inhabited the castle.

Renaissance Architecture

The chapel is an example of the Renaissance religious architecture that developed in the region. Its main facade, facing east, features a simple aesthetic, with plastered and whitewashed masonry.

However, the most distinctive element of the facade is its ashlar portal. This portal follows the canons of the Renaissance, with a perfect arch resting on cushioned pilasters, lending a sober elegance to the temple's entrance.

Interior and Artistic Details

The interior of the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist surprises with the geometric harmony of its Renaissance design. The single nave is covered by a remarkable barrel vault, which is divided into twelve well-defined coffers.

These coffers are adorned with delicate sgraffito, a decorative technique that creates grotesque designs in white on a grey background, lending visual richness to the ceiling. In the main altar, a wooden altarpiece, painted to simulate coloured marbles, features composite columns with reddish shafts and gilded capitals, flanking a central perfect-arch niche.

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