Chapel of Our Lady of Help

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Porto > Baião > Teixeiró > Petada

Location

Situated in the tranquility of the Petada area, in the locality of Teixeiró, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Socorro is located in the municipality of Baião. This place offers a serene environment, set on a gentle slope, with a large churchyard preceding its main entrance.

The chapel is surrounded by a landscape that combines small clusters of houses with extensive cultivated lands, reflecting the characteristic rural setting of the region.

History and Foundation

The Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Socorro is a testament to 18th-century architecture and faith, its construction having been recorded in 1731. Its presence in the landscape of Teixeiró dates back to times when chapels were an integral part of rural properties or small population clusters.

Historical documents, such as the Parochial Memoirs of 1758, already referred to this chapel, underlining its importance and longevity in the religious and social life of the community.

Architecture and Details

The architecture of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Socorro stands out for its floor plan, with an octagonal main nave to which a rectangular chancel is adjoined. The exterior is marked by white plastered and whitewashed walls, contrasting with the plinths and cornerstones in granite masonry. Pyramidal pinnacles, fixed on cushioned plinths, crown the cornerstones, lending a discreet elegance to the ensemble.

Inside, the walls remain white, but it is the carved giltwood that truly stands out. The nave's ceiling, made of painted wood, forms a panelled octagon with a central lantern that bathes the space in natural light. The granite masonry floor incorporates various inscribed tombstones, inviting a careful observation of the history engraved on the ground.

Artistic Elements of the Interior

The interior of the chapel is a true treasure of art and symbology. The Joanine giltwood, characteristic of the 18th century, is one of its highlights, visible in the side altarpieces, the valances, and the drapes of the windows, many of which display elaborate simulated marbling and lambrequins.

The painted ceilings deserve special attention. The nave's ceiling features asymmetrical cartouches with scrollwork and garlands of flowers, representing Marian symbols such as the Sun, the Moon, the Tower, the Cypress, and the Palm Tree. In the chancel, twelve coffers with prominent mouldings contain illustrations of the instruments of martyrdom, enriching the visit with the depth of their religious themes.

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