Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Vila Real > Peso da Régua > Vila Seca de Poiares
The Chapel of Santa Bárbara is nestled in the picturesque village of Vila Seca de Poiares, in the municipality of Peso da Régua. Perched at an altitude of about 640 meters, at the spot known as Zona de Mó, it offers a vast and inspiring panorama. From this high vantage point, the landscape of the Douro Wine Region unfolds into vineyard terraces that stretch to the horizon, dotted with traditional estates and small villages, with the Douro River meandering peacefully at the bottom of the valley.
The history of the Chapel of Santa Bárbara, although with some gaps regarding its precise foundation, dates back to at least the 18th century, a period from which records exist that attest to its presence and importance as a place of worship in the region. Its structure displays a simple and traditional architectural style, characteristic of rural Portuguese religious buildings. Its exterior, predominantly whitewashed, lends it a simple beauty that harmonizes with the surrounding landscape.
As its name indicates, the Chapel of Santa Bárbara is consecrated to Saint Barbara, a figure of devotion and a patron saint whom the local community reveres as a protector. Annually, the site hosts a popular festival that celebrates this faith, perpetuating a centuries-old tradition that unites the inhabitants. Beyond its religious function, the chapel and its surrounding landscape inspired the renowned writer Miguel Torga. Verses of his authorship, which praise the beauty of the place and allude to Saint Leonard, a figure associated, among other things, with the protection of prisoners and workers, are engraved on a tile on the rear façade of the chapel, giving it a notable cultural and literary dimension.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.1847568,-7.7145237
Coordinates DMS: 41°11'5.1"N 07°42'52.3"W
Weather Vila Seca de Poiares
On-duty Pharmacy Vila Seca de Poiares
