Hermitage of Saint Sebastian

Category: Religious Architecture > Hermitage

District: Portalegre > Campo Maior > Campo Maior > Nossa Senhora da Expectação

Location

The Chapel of São Sebastião is located in Campo Maior, integrated into the Nossa Senhora da Expectação urbanization. This small temple is built within the perimeter of the town's old bastioned fortification, specifically in the São Sebastião Bastion. Its position offers a glimpse of Campo Maior's historical defensive structure, placing the chapel within a military context of past centuries.

Historical Context and Identity

Also known as the Chapel of the Holy Martyr, this building has a deep connection with the history of Campo Maior. Although its exact foundation date is not defined, it is known that the chapel was erected simultaneously with the construction of the 17th-century bastion, that is, in the 17th century. This contemporaneity reveals its strategic and religious importance within the town's defensive complex, marking the presence of faith within the walls.

Architecture and Exterior Aspect

The chapel features a single, elongated nave plan, with an adjacent sacristy. Its facade stands out with a counter-curved pediment, adorned with two pinnacles at the ends, and delimited by a straight cornice. At the top, a simple cross marks its function and symbolizes Christian worship, giving it an air of simplicity and devotion that harmonizes with the robustness of the surrounding fortification.

Interior and Symbolism

Upon entering the chapel, visitors encounter an interior space with sober decoration in the chancel. Decorative details become more visible as one approaches the altar, creating a natural focal point for the central place of worship. In the division between the more public area and the sanctuary, two carefully arranged niches can be observed, designed to house images of saints, reinforcing the sacred character of the site.

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