Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Vila Real > Chaves > Paradela de Monforte
The Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary stands in the serene locality of Paradela de Monforte, integrated into the municipality of Chaves. It is situated in a tranquil rural environment, isolated in the plateau landscape of Alto-Tâmega, flanked by extensive agricultural fields. Its position, at the exit of the village and at a point where paths bifurcate, gives it a particular character, inviting contemplation of its surroundings. In front, a cruzeiro (stone cross) helps organize the small square and reinforces its symbolic dimension in the community.
This small temple, featuring religious architecture rooted in the 16th and 17th centuries, presents a simple rectangular plan. Its main façade, oriented to the northwest, is marked by a welcoming front porch. This porch is supported by granite pillars, resting on a stone wall that, on the interior, forms a bench, inviting rest. The main portal, a perfect arch, is adorned with wide voussoirs and includes, at its keystone, a small empty niche. The chapel features a white-toned façade and side and rear walls of exposed granite, topped by a cornice. On the left side, a small slit window is the only opening allowing natural light into the interior. Above the roof, visible from some distance, stands a simple bell-gable with a perfect arch, crowned by a Latin cross.
Upon entering the chapel, one discovers a unique and singular space, with granite slab flooring and masonry walls of the same material. The wooden ceiling has a trough-like shape with a central metal tie-beam, giving it a rustic and authentic atmosphere. The main highlight of the interior lies on the end wall, where notable superimposed mural paintings are preserved. These paintings, corresponding to two chronologically distinct campaigns, from the 16th and 17th centuries, depict the patroness, Our Lady of the Rosary. The older layer reveals the Virgin seated with the Child on her lap, enveloped by a rosary of red flowers against a dark background. The more recent layer, already exhibiting Baroque characteristics, shows the Virgin standing and crowned, holding the Child in her right arm, surrounded by a rosary of white flowers against a vibrant yellow background. This ensemble constitutes a significant case of aesthetic and artistic renewal, offering a window into pictorial practices of different eras.
The Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, owned by the Catholic Church (Diocese of Vila Real), has remained faithful to its original religious use since its probable construction in the 16th century. Its history is marked by significant interventions, such as the removal of an altarpiece in 1990 which revealed the mural paintings, allowing for their subsequent restoration around 1991. This site is not only a point of faith but also a testament to the architectural and artistic evolution of the region, with its exterior simplicity contrasting with the historical and cultural richness of its interior walls.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.8079074,-7.3364395
Coordinates DMS: 41°48'28.5"N 07°20'11.2"W
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