Chapel of Saint Sebastian

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Viseu > Nelas > Canas de Senhorim

Location

The Chapel of Saint Sebastian is nestled in the locality of Canas de Senhorim, which is part of the municipality of Nelas. Located in the heart of this picturesque village, the chapel is easily accessible, standing at the crossroads of streets such as Rua do Rossio, Rua de São Sebastião, and Rua do Comércio, allowing visitors a natural integration into the local environment.

Memory and Community Reconstruction

The history of the Chapel of Saint Sebastian in Canas de Senhorim is rich and dates back to the early 17th century, with the foundation of its Brotherhood in 1621. This place of worship, initially a hermitage, faced periods of great degradation, even being stripped of its original function and used as a hayloft.

Ancient narratives tell that when the image of Saint Sebastian was moved, it curiously reappeared at the hermitage's original site on foggy mornings, as if wanting to return home. This legend inspired a remarkable collective effort. At the end of the 18th century, with the chapel in ruins, the community of Canas de Senhorim united to reconstruct it, in a testament to their profound devotion. Later, in 1927, the building was re-inaugurated, marking a new chapter in its life and in the faith journey of the population.

The Building and Devotion

Today, the Chapel of Saint Sebastian remains a vibrant space for religious worship. Its architecture, though simple, reflects the sobriety and functionality characteristic of temples of that era, with the construction of the chancel overseen by the stonemason Manuel Dias in the 18th century.

Over the years, the chapel was enriched by various donations from the community. One of the prominent elements inside is the retábulo (altarpiece), which was placed there in 1915, having come from the deactivated Chapel of São Caetano, lending it an additional layer of history and beauty. This place is, thus, a symbol of the persistence of faith and the historical memory of Canas de Senhorim.

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