Martyr Saint Sebastian Chapel

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Viseu > Armamar > Coura > Vila Seca e Santo Adrião

Location

The Martyr Chapel of São Sebastião is located in the area of Vila Seca and Santo Adrião, integrated into the locality of Coura, municipality of Armamar. The building stands out in the urban landscape, set on a platform that rises halfway up the hillside. This position gives it particular visibility, with its facades opening onto streets that wind through a steeply sloping environment, characteristics that contribute to its striking presence on site.

Architectural Features

The Chapel of São Sebastião displays a fusion of architectural styles, namely Mannerist and Baroque. Its main facade, oriented southwest, features a simple gable, culminating in a bell-gable with a perfect arch that displays the date of 1727. The walls, plastered and painted white, highlight the granite stonework elements, such as the plinths and quoins. Pyramidal pinnacles crown the corners, lending a decorative touch. The entrance is marked by a straight lintel portal, flanked by Tuscan pilasters, and flanked by two rectangular windows.

Sacred Art and Interior Decoration

Inside the Chapel, the eye is drawn to the elaborate ceiling. A false flattened barrel vault, adorned with painted coffers, reveals a rich hagiographic repertoire, with representations of Apostles and martyr saints, including Saint Simon, Saint Jude Thaddeus, Saint Bartholomew, Saint James, Saint Apollonia, Saint Anthony, and Saint John the Baptist. These paintings, with their carved frames, date from the second half of the 18th century. The space is further enriched by a gilded altarpiece, a notable example of Baroque art. This altar features a concave-plan body, with pilasters and twisted columns richly ornamented with acanthus leaves, vine scrolls, and angels. At the center, a perfect arch niche, with a damask-imitating background, houses the tabernacle, whose door is artistically worked with the figure of the Tree of Life.

Historical Legacy

The history of the Martyr Chapel of São Sebastião, although its probable construction dates to the 17th century, is linked to significant events. In 1686, for instance, the Brotherhood of Souls, which was established in this temple, had its statutes reformed and approved by Bishop D. José de Menezes. The date visible on the main facade's bell-gable (1727) indicates a period of importance for its structure, perhaps a completion or a significant intervention. During the 18th century, the chapel was further enriched with the creation of its main altarpiece and the painting of the ceiling coffers, attesting to its continuous relevance as a center of devotion and artistic expression in the community throughout the centuries.

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