Chapel of Saint Blaise

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Viseu > Lamego > Cambres

Location

The Chapel of São Brás stands in the city of Vila Real, in an area of particular historical relevance. It is situated on a natural promontory, with views over the confluence of the Corgo and Cabril rivers, and is integrated into the old medieval nucleus. This tranquil spot is adjoined to the western facade of the Church of São Dinis, within what was once a cemetery, creating an atmosphere of deep connection to the past.

A Medieval Legacy

Dating from the 14th century, the Chapel of São Brás is recognized as the oldest temple in Vila Real, marking the beginnings of the city founded in the late 13th century. Its historical and architectural importance earned it the classification as a National Monument. The sobriety of its granite facades is notable on the exterior, where the cornices rest on corbels. Some of these decorative elements surprise with their details, exhibiting geometric motifs, human heads, birds, and masks that invite closer observation.

Interior Treasures

Upon entering the chapel, visitors descend a few steps into an interior that reveals its funerary purpose. The floor, covered with granite slabs, houses several tomb lids, some with coats of arms and inscriptions marking the presence of local historical figures. The walls, also in exposed stonework, are notable for their five arcosolia, arched funerary niches, which contain tomb chests.

One of the highlights inside is the elaborate arcosolium of João Teixeira de Macedo, a nobleman with a prominent role in the court and in military campaigns. This funerary niche exhibits a festooned polylobed arch, richly decorated with rosettes and vegetal motifs. On the end wall, the chapel surprises with vestiges of 16th-century mural paintings, which once formed an altarpiece. Although covered for a period, these works of art reveal sacred scenes and figures, including the central image of São Brás, providing a visual testimony of the faith and art of the era.

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