Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel
District: Viana do Castelo > Ponte de Lima > Ponte de Lima > Arca e Ponte de Lima
The Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Penha de França is located in the heart of Ponte de Lima village, in the Arca and Ponte de Lima area. It stands on a slightly elevated platform above the street level, accessed by a staircase that invites discovery. Its central position and the urban environment in which it is situated, flanked by other historical buildings, make it an integral part of the locality's cultural fabric. Its location is particularly relevant, precisely opposite the old Prison Tower, a detail directly connected to its history.
This small chapel was built in 1613 at the initiative of João Lourenço, a citizen of Ponte de Lima. Its purpose was quite peculiar and of great civic significance for the time: to allow inmates from the neighbouring Prison Tower to attend religious services, as the new prison did not have an oratory. To this end, the chapel was strategically built so that a prison window offered an unobstructed view of the altar, an arrangement that underscores the original intention. Its administration was entrusted to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Ponte de Lima (Holy House of Mercy of Ponte de Lima), which ensured the holding of masses for the prisoners.
The chapel exhibits modest dimensions in its architecture, with a main façade of sober lines, evoking the Mannerist tradition. It features a simple rectangular plan, crowned by a triangular pediment and a small bell-gable which, though integrated into the original structure, displays spiral ornaments believed to date from the 18th century. The exterior, with its simplicity, contrasts remarkably with the artistic richness of its interior. Upon entering, visitors encounter plastered walls painted white, flagstone flooring, and a coffered wooden ceiling forming panels.
The highlight of the interior is, without a doubt, the main altarpiece. Executed in gilded carving in the National Baroque style, this 18th-century element stands out for its imposing presence and complexity. It features a concave body and three axes, defined by pilasters and columns richly ornamented with acanthus, birds, and angels, culminating in a central tribuna and side niches for imagery. This sumptuousness of the altarpiece offers a fascinating visual contrast with the structural and decorative restraint of the rest of the temple.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.76718,-8.584931
Coordinates DMS: 41°46'1.8"N 08°35'5.8"W
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