Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel
District: Viseu > Lamego > Lamego > Bairro da Ponte
Situated in Bairro da Ponte, a tranquil area of Lamego, this chapel is harmoniously integrated into a peri-urban zone. Its position, halfway up a slope and near the Balsemão River, offers a serene and inviting atmosphere. To access the site, a small descending staircase leads to a walled and landscaped churchyard, a well-maintained space with boxwood beds framing the entrance, providing a pleasant pause. Next to the entrance, a stone fountain adds a picturesque touch to the scene.
The history of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Meninos dates back to the 16th century, when it was rebuilt or remodeled at the initiative of Bishop D. Manuel de Noronha. It was this prelate who, around 1555, decided to transfer the image of the Virgin, previously venerated in Lamego Cathedral under the titles of Nossa Senhora do Amparo and Nossa Senhora da Cadeirinha, to this hermitage. Popular devotion to Nossa Senhora dos Meninos is deeply rooted, attributing to her the protection and miracles of saving children who were at risk of being swept away by the current of the Balsemão River, thus justifying the affectionate name the chapel bears today.
The chapel presents itself as a notable example of Mannerist and Baroque architecture, visible in its rectangular plan structure, comprising a nave, high choir, and chancel. The main facade, facing southeast, stands out with a perfect arch portal, flanked by windows and crowned by a gable. Above the architrave of the portico, one can observe the heraldic coat of arms of Bishop D. Manuel de Noronha, a detail that testifies to his importance in the edifice. Inside, the decorative richness is profuse. The nave walls are covered with patterned tiles from the 17th and 18th centuries, featuring designs of corn cobs and lacework. The chancel is separated from the nave by a pau-preto railing and features a main altarpiece in gilded carving, adorned with pseudo-Solomonic columns and richly decorated pilasters. The trough ceilings are a highlight, with painted panels depicting scenes from the life of Christ in the nave and 25 coffer panels illustrating the life of the Virgin in the chancel, each accompanied by Latin captions.
Beyond its significant architecture and decoration, the chapel holds an iconographic treasure that links the sacred to local daily life. On the Gospel side of the chancel, an 18th-century oil on canvas captures attention. This painting depicts Our Lady with the Child in her lap, surrounded by angels, but it is the background scenery that offers a unique perspective on Lamego's past: a bridge, washerwomen by the river, clothes drying in the sun, and geese swimming in the Balsemão. It is presumed to be one of the oldest visual representations of Bairro da Ponte itself, highlighting the deep connection of the place to the community and the river, and to the history that shaped the name of this chapel.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.0915669,-7.8033556
Coordinates DMS: 41°05'29.6"N 07°48'12.1"W
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