Chapel of Saint Euphemia

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Porto > Baião > Santa Marinha do Zêzere > Várzea

Location

The Chapel of Santa Eufémia is located in the serene Várzea area, in the town of Santa Marinha do Zêzere, municipality of Baião. Situated in a predominantly rural setting, on slightly uneven ground and in a valley near a watercourse, its position stands out in the surrounding landscape. This place invites a moment of tranquility and contemplation, immersed in the natural beauty of the region.

A Secular History

The roots of the Chapel of Santa Eufémia date back to the 12th century, a period when it was founded by Soeiro Viegas, alongside an already existing primitive hermitage. Throughout the centuries, the site was a dynamic Benedictine female convent, growing and enriching itself under the aegis of figures such as D. Maior Soares, granddaughter of the founder and abbess. Its history is marked by a cycle of life and renewal, witnessing works of expansion and reconstruction in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. These interventions were necessary due to challenges such as floods and the natural wear and tear of time, shaping the structure we see today and giving it an identity that encompasses various periods of Portuguese religious architecture.

Architectural Features

The Chapel of Santa Eufémia is a building that reveals the passage of centuries through its architectural styles. At its core, it features Romanesque-Gothic elements, complemented by Mannerist and Baroque additions that give it a rich and diversified visual identity. The main façade, facing northeast, is notable for its rectangular portal framed by pilasters and topped by an entablature, where an arched niche can be seen. The three-story bell tower rises in the landscape, culminating in a prismatic spire and topped by a small balustrade. This fusion of eras results in a structure of articulated volumes, predominantly built of granite, which harmonizes impressiveness with the delicacy of details.

The Interior and Sacred Art

Upon entering the Chapel of Santa Eufémia, visitors are enveloped by the richness of its interior. The nave features a trough-shaped wooden ceiling, while the chancel surprises with a ceiling of 25 polychrome wooden coffers, depicting scenes from the lives of Our Lady and Jesus, as well as saints of the Benedictine Order. Much of the space is covered with carpet-style tiles, featuring varied patterns and a notable depiction of Saint Benedict. The quadrangular pulpit, with its stone basin and carved wooden railing, demonstrates the mastery of the artisans of the time. Four gilded and polychrome altarpieces, in Joanine and Rococo styles, dedicated to figures such as the Lord of the Afflicted, Our Lady of Sorrows, Saint John the Evangelist, and Our Lady of the Rosary, embellish the walls with their exuberant decoration. The main altar, also in gilded carving, is a central point of great artistic value, with its upholstered and polychrome torch-bearing angels. In the former low choir, one can still observe the grilles, a confessional, and the "foundling wheel," elements that remind us of convent life of yesteryear.

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