Sanctuary of Our Lady of Light

Category: Religious Architecture > Sanctuary

District: Portalegre > Castelo de Vide > Castelo de Vide > Quinta do Brejo

Location

This sanctuary is located in a tranquil, rural setting, within the Quinta do Brejo area, on the outskirts of the village of Castelo de Vide. It is situated in a flat plain, offering a sense of harmonious isolation from the urban center. The chapel faces a small square, where a stone cruzeiro (stone cross) is located.

The rear of the building and one of the side facades face a walled backyard, punctuated by olive trees, complementing the serene atmosphere of the place.

Historical Origin

The history of the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Luz dates back to the early 17th century. The chapel was founded in 1609 by Francisco Rodrigues Henriques, a resident of Lisbon, and built at his expense.

This historical information can be verified through inscriptions on marble tombstones present inside the chapel, which detail its foundation and the name of its original patron.

Exterior Architecture

The sanctuary exhibits religious architecture with Mannerist lines. Its longitudinal structure consists of a single nave, preceded by a galilee, a type of entrance porch, and a stepped chancel at the rear.

The main façade, facing south, stands out with its galilee supported by two Tuscan columns. The nave's façade features a simple granite-framed portal, flanked by barred windows. There is also a small bell-gable on the roof and masonry benches along the side facades, inviting a moment of rest outdoors.

Interior Adorned with History and Art

Upon entering, the eye is immediately captured by the interior, which is entirely covered with 17th-century carpet tiles. These tiles, in shades of blue, white, and yellow, cover the walls of the nave and the chancel, displaying various patterns arranged in registers defined by friezes and borders.

In the chancel is the main altarpiece, a piece of gilded and polychromed wood in the Mannerist style. Structured in different levels, it features Ionic columns framing painted panels on wood, depicting religious scenes and figures, such as the Virgin, the Child Jesus, the Coronation of the Virgin, the Annunciation, and the Presentation in the Temple. The altar frontal also features tiles, dated 1924 and signed by the painter Maria Flores, with motifs of lacework, exotic birds, flowers, and animals.

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