Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel
District: Viseu > Tondela > Campo de Besteiros > Nossa Senhora do Campo
The Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Campo is located in the town of Campo de Besteiros, in the municipality of Tondela, right within the urban area of Nossa Senhora do Campo. The temple stands in isolation, within a spacious churchyard that surrounds it, inviting a peaceful pause. This landscaped area, delimited by a low stone wall and iron chains, creates a serene environment, punctuated by trees and classically designed lampposts, which complement the harmony of the whole.
The origins of this chapel are rooted in ancient history, with evidence of devotion to Nossa Senhora do Campo dating back to the 15th century, possibly linked to a legend about the apparition of the image. The structure we observe today had its first major construction at the beginning of the 17th century, around 1616, a date still visible on its portal. However, it was in the 18th century that the temple underwent its greatest transformation, driven by the arrival of the Third Order of Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo in 1723. An extensive renovation, initiated in 1730 and only completed in 1776, shaped the chapel into its current configuration. This monument is recognized for its historical and artistic relevance, having been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1974.
On the exterior, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Campo features a refined architecture, which evokes the sobriety of "plain" architecture, despite its 18th-century reconstruction. The main façade, facing west, stands out for its simple gable, flanked by pilasters culminating in pinnacles. The straight-lintel portal, framed in stonework, is surmounted by a triangular pediment housing a quadrilobed oculus, lending a touch of distinction to its modest elegance. The white walls, which contrast with the plinth and granite details, reinforce the purity of its forms.
Upon crossing the portal, visitors are surprised by a remarkable contrast. The chapel's interior reveals striking visual dynamism, characterized by the richness of gilded and polychrome carving adorning the altars, a testament to the Rococo aesthetic prevalent in the 18th century. The single nave culminates in an octagonal chancel, with a richly carved polychrome altarpiece, where the image of the patroness rests. The ceilings, both of the nave and the chancel, are one of the highlights of the visit, displaying "trompe l'oeil" paintings that create optical illusions, filled with decorative elements such as colonnades, vases, and festoons, and religious figures that narrate the history of the Virgin of Carmel and the souls in Purgatory.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.55084109,-8.13312181
Coordinates DMS: 40°33'3.0"N 08°07'59.2"W
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