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Chapel of Saint Anthony

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Viana do Castelo > Arcos de Valdevez > Sabadim > Porto do Rio

Location

The Chapel of Saint Anthony is located in the Porto do Rio area, in the village of Sabadim, within the municipality of Arcos de Valdevez. Its position is central and harmonious, adapting to the slope of the terrain and marking one of the area's reference points. Access is via a small paved churchyard, an invitation to discover its uniqueness.

Architectural Features

This religious building presents an interesting combination of Mannerist and Baroque styles, visible in its lines and details, resulting from interventions throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. The main facade, facing northwest, stands out with its straight lintel portal, elegantly crowned by a frieze and a cornice. Two rectangular windows, with grilles, flank the portal, and above, an oval opening beautifies the gable.

A distinctive element of the chapel is its rectangular porch, supported by Tuscan columns resting on a stone masonry wall, which, on the inside, forms a continuous bench. The porch ceiling is made of wooden lathing, and the floor of stone slabs. The chapel's facades, plastered and whitewashed, are finished with a simple frieze and cornice, with Tuscan pilasters at the corners culminating in pyramidal pinnacles. On the left side facade, a niche with the image of Saint Anthony, in a perfect arch and with Tuscan pilasters, is a point of interest. A small bell-cote in a perfect arch, above the sacristy, completes the exterior ensemble.

The Interior and the Gilded Carving

Upon entering, one discovers a simple and welcoming space, with whitewashed walls, a slab floor, and a low-pitched wooden ceiling. The choir loft, built of wood, rests on a robust beam and features a simple balustrade, accessible by a staircase. The great attraction of the interior is the gilded carved altarpiece, a beautiful example of national Baroque style, with a straight-line structure and three axes. Its side pilasters and six twisted columns are richly ornamented with figures of angels, vine scroll motifs, and phoenixes, displaying Corinthian capitals.

In the central axis of the altarpiece, a tribunal in a perfect arch, decorated with acanthus and vine scrolls, houses an elaborate display throne with steps and cherubim. The side niches, also in a perfect arch, display painted panels in shades of blue and imaginary elements. The main altar is complemented by a painted panel frontal, depicting the Virgin, Saint John, and Our Lady of Sorrows, offering a harmonious and devout vision to visitors.

The Cross in the Churchyard

In front of the Chapel of Saint Anthony, in its churchyard, stands a noteworthy stone cross. With a circular five-step base, upon which rests a parallelepiped plinth, this cross features an inscription on its front face that alludes to the elevation of the Lord with the cross. Its tall and monolithic shaft, circular in section and fluted, with diamond points at the bottom, culminates in a spherical capital supporting a Latin cross of quadrangular section, with the ends of the arms shaped like buttons, evidencing the mastery of stone craftsmanship.

Historical Context

The history of the Chapel of Saint Anthony dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Its construction began in 1685, initiated by a confraternity dedicated to Saint Anthony, with the works being awarded to local master stonemasons. A decade later, in 1695, the remarkable gilded carved altarpiece was executed, the work of the Braga carver Frutuoso de Azevedo. This chapel was part of an old route connecting Arcos de Valdevez to Braga, which gave it a role in the movement and faith of the time. Throughout the 18th century, the building underwent remodelling, and a more recent restoration, in 1997, ensured its preservation, with the support of a benefactor, keeping its presence alive in the community.

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

Coordinates DD: 41.9066031,-8.4579715
Coordinates DMS: 41°54'23.8"N 08°27'28.7"W

Weather Sabadim  Weather Sabadim

Monday, 04
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20° | 32°
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Tuesday, 05
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20° | 39°
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Wednesday, 06
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20° | 35°
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Thursday, 07
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18° | 35°
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Friday, 08
Overcast clouds
19° | 35°
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Saturday, 09
Clear sky
18° | 19°
Clear sky

On-duty Pharmacy Sabadim  On-duty Pharmacy Sabadim

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