Chapel of Saint Anthony

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Viana do Castelo > Ponte de Lima > Arcozelo > Serralheira

Location

The Chapel of Santo António is located in the Serralheira area, a zone that integrates the locality of Arcozelo, in the municipality of Ponte de Lima. Its location allows visitors to experience an environment that blends the tranquility of a residential area with proximity to the characteristic landscape of Minho, far from the hustle and bustle of busier centers.

Historical Route

The Chapel of Santo António holds a deep history, with its roots reaching back to the 18th century when a primitive hermitage stood on the site. This place of worship, over time, hosted various invocations. It initially began by being dedicated to Our Lady of Hope and later to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Its history is also prominently linked to the devotion to Our Lady of Guidance, which became one of the significant invocations of this temple. The appearance observed in the chapel today results from a significant reformulation and expansion that occurred in the early 19th century, giving it its current dimension. Occasionally referred to as "Torre Velha" (Old Tower), this unique designation stems from its coexistence with a medieval tower of an ancient enclosure, demolished in the mid-19th century, a memory that endures in its name.

Architectural and Artistic Notes

The Chapel of Santo António displays a longitudinal plan, common to the religious architecture of the time. Its exterior facade is noteworthy, with an interrupted curved pediment and pinnacles rising above the lateral pilasters. One of its most characteristic features is the tile cladding that covers a substantial part of the facade, giving it a distinctive and colorful appearance that integrates into the Minho landscape. Inside, the sacred space unfolds into a main nave, chancel, and sacristy.

It is in the chancel that the gaze is drawn to the rich gilded woodcarving, an artistic element of great value that enriches the altarpieces and other details, testifying to the mastery of the artisans of the era. The imposing bell tower, an addition from the 19th-century interventions, stands out for its height and the singular gargoyles present at its corners, elements that add an unusual sculptural detail.

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