Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Viseu > Tondela > Dardavaz > Outeiro de Baixo
The Chapel of Ribeira de Souto stands discreetly in the area of Outeiro de Baixo, in the small village of Dardavaz, municipality of Tondela, in the district of Viseu. Immersed in a rural setting typical of the Beira Alta region, it is surrounded by stretches of pasture and scattered olive groves, situated on slightly undulating terrain.
Its surroundings are marked by rural dirt tracks that meander through cultivated fields, highlighting the deep historical and cultural connection between this agricultural community and its place of worship.
Although exhaustive documentation on its construction is scarce, it is estimated that the chapel dates back to the 18th century, a period when small rural oratories proliferated in the Beira Alta region. Since its foundation, the Chapel of Ribeira de Souto has served as an important meeting point for religious celebrations and the preservation of ancient local traditions.
Its symbolic context is revealing of the centrality of religious worship in the villages of this region, where chapels of modest size but great sentimental value were erected on the initiative of families or the parish community itself, testifying to the faith and unity of the people.
Built predominantly of granite, the chapel features a single-nave structure, covered by a gable roof with traditional ceramic tiles. Among its distinctive features, a small bell gable that rises above the exterior choir stands out, as does a side staircase leading to a secondary portal.
The main façade is enhanced by a portico supported by columns, which integrates austerely yet harmoniously into the overall composition. This front antechamber offers shelter, protecting the building's interior from the natural elements, such as wind and heavy rain.
The Chapel of Ribeira de Souto is set within surrounding land that is mainly used for pasture and small agricultural plots. The landscape is dotted with granite retaining walls, which, over time, have shaped gentle terraces, lending a unique texture to the environment.
Its privileged and open position offers expansive views over the surrounding rural valleys and patches of native vegetation. This setting provides an experience of tranquility, where the solidity of the granite construction contrasts harmoniously with the vastness of the countryside horizon, creating a particularly captivating visual scene, especially at dusk, when the sunlight enhances the warm tones of the stone.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.4715862,-8.1056385
Coordinates DMS: 40°28'17.7"N 08°06'20.3"W
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