Chapel of Our Lady of Vila Velha da Fronteira / Chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Portalegre > Fronteira > Fronteira > Vila Velha

Location

This chapel stands atop a rise in Vila Velha, a place strongly linked to the locality of Fronteira. Its position offers a tranquil environment and a rural setting, where the architecture integrates with the landscape. A walled churchyard, with access via a staircase and ramp, surrounds the chapel, providing a serene space before entering the temple.

Roots and Transformations

Although its foundation dates back to the Gothic period, around the 13th century, the chapel's current appearance is largely due to profound transformations that occurred between the 17th and 18th centuries, with a strong Baroque character. The chapel has always had and maintains its vocation as a pilgrimage hermitage, being a point of faith and devotion throughout the centuries in the region.

Exterior Silhouette

The exterior of the chapel reveals a composition of stepped volumes, with differentiated roofs that give it an interesting profile. The main façade is preceded by a galilee, a type of porch with arches and an upper balcony topped with battlements, inviting entry. Elements such as the granite base with blue details and the single-opening bell tower contribute to its distinct presence in the landscape.

The Surprising Interior Decoration

Upon crossing the portal, the visitor is greeted by an explosion of color and detail. The interior is a true art treasure, with the walls fully covered in tiles displaying interlaced patterns, floral and geometric motifs in shades of blue, white, and yellow, creating an immersive atmosphere. The ceilings and vaults, in turn, feature a remarkable collection of mural paintings. In the nave, coffers illustrate scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary and saints. In the chancel, whose interior is circular but exterior is polygonal, the dome is richly decorated with panels representing episodes from the life of the Virgin, figures of angels and the Evangelists, inviting close observation of its beauty and meaning.

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