Chapel of Saint Anthony

Category: Religious Architecture > Hermitage

District: Portalegre > Ponte de Sor > Galveias > Deveza

Location

Located in the town of Galveias, municipality of Ponte de Sor, the Hermitage of Santo António is found in the Deveza area. This area is an integral part of the urban fabric of Galveias, accommodating this small temple within its local environment.

Architectural Structure

The Hermitage of Santo António stands out for its unusual architectural composition. The building is formed by two distinct bodies: the chancel, which adopts a circular plan, and the nave, which is rectangular and single-bodied. It is believed that the nave may have resulted from the adaptation of a vestibule that was originally open to the exterior, giving it an uncommon layout.

The Baroque Altarpiece

Inside the Hermitage, attention is drawn to the main altarpiece. This piece of sacred art, made of carved wood and profusely gilded with fine gold, features the Baroque style and dates from the late 18th century. It is an element that enriches the interior space with its artistic quality and detail.

A Local Legend

The Hermitage of Santo António is also the guardian of a curious local legend. It is said that, in ancient times, single girls wishing to marry would blindfold themselves and try to hit the hermitage door's lock with a key. The number of attempts it took them to succeed would, according to the belief, be the number of years they would have to wait until their wedding day. This story lends a symbolic and cultural character to the place.

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