Chapel of Saint Catherine

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Viana do Castelo > Viana do Castelo > Viana do Castelo > Centro Histórico

Location

The Chapel of Saint Catherine is located in the heart of Viana do Castelo's Historic Centre, in an area known as Ribeira. Situated near the commercial docks and the right bank of the Lima River, its riverside position reflects the temple's deep connection to the city's maritime community. In front of the chapel, there is an open space, formerly a churchyard, which offers a serene setting and allows for a peaceful observation of the façade.

A Centenary History and the Connection to the Sea

The history of this chapel is notable for its origin and its destiny. Documents from the 15th century already mention the confraternity of the Mariners, which at the time had an initial chapel inside the Castle of Santiago da Barra. However, the expansion works of the fortress and the difficulty of access for fishermen to this location led to the need for its transfer. It was in the early 17th century, with the authorization of Philip III, that the current chapel began to be built in the Ribeira area, becoming more accessible to the fishing community and reinforcing its role as a place of worship for those who lived from the sea.

Architectural Features and Sacred Art

The Chapel of Saint Catherine presents a religious architecture that combines Renaissance and Baroque elements. Its main façade, made of plastered masonry with ashlar quoins, is distinguished by a truncated gable topped by a bell-gable and a round arch portal. Inside, the single nave is covered by a wooden ceiling and features a high choir. Elements such as the pulpit, dating from 1604, and the side altarpieces attract attention due to their gilded carving and painting, with central niches framed by pseudo-Solomonic columns.

Still inside, it is possible to observe vestiges of an earlier portico next to the triumphal arch, with fluted columns and Corinthian capitals, adorned with angel heads. The main altarpiece, also in gilded carving, features a central throne. In the axial corridor of the nave, two tomb slabs are found, a testament to the antiquity and historical importance of the site as a space of veneration and memory for the community of Viana do Castelo.

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