Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel
District: Viseu > Lamego > Balsemão
The Chapel of São Pedro de Balsemão stands in a profoundly tranquil setting, in the locality of Balsemão, Lamego. Situated on a small plain, almost touching the banks of the Balsemão River, a tributary of the Varosa River, this monument is nestled in a rural landscape that invites serenity. The chapel is partially connected to the old Solar dos Pintos, an imposing manor house, sharing with it a churchyard that opens onto the surrounding area.
This small chapel represents one of the most unique architectural testimonies in Portugal, fueling debates among historians about its origin. While some advocate for its construction during the Visigothic period, between the 6th and 7th centuries, others point to a later date, in the 9th or 10th centuries, during the expansion phase of the Kingdom of Asturias. Whatever its exact foundation, it is a rare example of early medieval architecture that has withstood the test of time. The very stone of the chapel tells even older stories, with the presence of reused Roman aras in its structure, indicating that this place was already inhabited and valued in Roman times.
Over the centuries, the Chapel of São Pedro de Balsemão has undergone significant transformations. In the 14th century, the Bishop of Porto, D. Afonso Pires, carried out significant works, transforming it into his funerary chapel. Later, in the 17th and 18th centuries, the building was profoundly altered and integrated into the adjacent manor house, acquiring the appearance that can be observed today. Its invaluable historical and cultural value earned it the classification as a National Monument.
With a basilical ground plan, the chapel is composed of three naves, a characteristic of its earliest phase. Although the exterior reveals the influence of later remodels, with Baroque and Mannerist touches, it is inside that the visitor encounters the most original and striking elements. The three naves are separated by horseshoe arches resting on reused columns and capitals, some of Roman origin. Its greatest highlight, however, are the geometric decorative elements, which adorn the capitals and imposts, constituting the most extensive and well-preserved collection of early medieval ornamentation of this type in the entire Iberian Peninsula.
In the interior space, the horseshoe-shaped triumphal arch preceding the chancel stands out. The main altar is enhanced by a gilded carving retable, where the image of Saint Peter is located. One of the most interesting points is the sculpted sarcophagus of Bishop D. Afonso Pires, who died in 1362 and is buried in the center of the main nave, perpetuating the memory of an important figure in the temple's history.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.10681114,-7.78313229
Coordinates DMS: 41°06'24.5"N 07°46'59.3"W
Weather Balsemão
On-duty Pharmacy Balsemão
