Chapel of Saint Blaise

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Viana do Castelo > Melgaço > Assureira > Capela de São Brás

Location

Situated in the locality of Assureira, in the municipality of Melgaço, the Chapel of São Brás is located in a profoundly rural and isolated environment. Its harmonious integration into the vast Peneda-Gerês National Park provides it with a landscape setting of great natural beauty, where the serenity of the scenery is palpable.

The chapel stands on an elevated platform, parallel to the road and next to the slope, with a churchyard accessed by front steps. This location, characteristic of the region's ancient "inverneiras" (winter settlements), harks back to a past of seasonal habitation, where communities sought milder shelters during the winter months.

Architectural Journey and Exterior

The history of the Chapel of São Brás probably dates back to the 16th or 17th centuries, marking its presence in Melgaço's religious heritage for several centuries. The structure, with simple lines, is built of irregular granite ashlar masonry, characteristic of local architecture.

Over time, the building underwent some adaptations that shaped its current appearance. In the 19th or 20th century, a large galilee was added to the main façade. This galilee, which functions as an entrance porch, is supported by robust pillars and features a continuous bench inside, offering a place for rest and contemplation. The main façade, gabled, is crowned by a cross and pyramidal finials, elements added in more recent periods.

The Interior and Its Details

Inside, the Chapel of São Brás reveals an environment of seclusion and simplicity. The floor is covered with stone slabs, and the plastered walls feature white paint that enhances the luminosity of the space, creating a sense of tranquility.

One of the most distinctive elements of the interior is its wooden ceiling, which is trough-shaped and painted a serene sky blue, adding a particular visual touch to the space. At the end of the nave, there is a tripartite altarpiece structure, possibly from the chapel's original period (16th or 17th centuries), decorated with painted flower panels, evoking the style of ancient medieval illuminations.

Patrimonial and Cultural Value

The Chapel of São Brás is a site of recognized historical and cultural value, classified as a Property of Public Interest. This classification underscores the importance of the chapel as a vestige of the region's traditional religious architecture and as an integral part of the natural and cultural landscape of the Peneda-Gerês National Park.

Historically, the chapel has been a place of worship for the local community, where the feast in honor of its patron saint is celebrated annually. Although it was not a center of major pilgrimages in the past, its presence contributes to the identity and history of Assureira, inviting a moment of pause and appreciation of the region's cultural and religious heritage.

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