Hermitage of Our Lady of Guadalupe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hermitage of Our Lady of Guadalupe |
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Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe
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| 37°05′01″N 8°51′53″W / 37.08361°N 8.86472°W | |
| Location | Vila do Bispo, |
| Country | Portugal |
| Denomination | Catholic Church in Portugal |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Romano-Gothic and Late Gothic |
| Years built | uncertain |
The Hermitage of Our Lady of Guadalupe (known in Portuguese as Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe) is a very old chapel. It is found between the towns of Budens and Raposeira in the Algarve region of Portugal. This special place is famous because many people believe that Prince Henry the Navigator (1394–1460) used to pray here. Prince Henry was a key figure in Portugal's Age of Discovery. Besides the chapel, there is also a small museum dedicated to him.
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History of the Chapel
This chapel is built from local sandstone and is painted white. It has a simple rectangular shape. The walls are supported by strong structures called buttresses, which are typical of the Romano-Gothic style.
Inside the Chapel
The main part of the chapel has a beautiful arched ceiling, known as a vault. This vault is held up by eight columns. These columns have detailed tops, called capitals, decorated with branches, shells, human faces, and leaves. These decorations are some of the most realistic of their kind in Portugal.
Unique Features and Survival
You can see two gargoyles on the south side. These are stone figures that spout rainwater from the roof of the sacristy (a room where priests prepare). Above the main door, there is a small round window with stone tracery, called a rose window.
The Hermitage of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the few medieval buildings left in the Algarve. It survived the big 1755 Lisbon earthquake that destroyed many other structures. This makes it the oldest religious building in the region. It was also one of the first churches in Portugal to be named after Our Lady of Guadalupe. Even though it's in a quiet area, it's a large building. People believe it could hold about 400 people for a church service. In 1924, it was officially declared a National Monument.
When Was It Built?
Experts have different ideas about when the chapel was built. Some think it was built by the Knights Templar. This would have been in the late 1200s, during the time of King Denis. They believe it was only later dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Another idea is that it was built after a special event, called the miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which happened in Spain in the early 1300s. There are also parts of the building that look like they were built in the 1400s. These features are similar to the nearby Silves Cathedral. However, some people think these were just changes made later, not part of the original building.
Prince Henry's Connection
The exact link between the chapel and Prince Henry the Navigator is not fully clear. Prince Henry, also known as Infante Dom Henrique, was the fourth son of King John I of Portugal. He was very important in starting Portugal's explorations. He sent the first Portuguese sailors to explore the west coast of Africa. His goal was to find a direct sea route to India and the Far East. Many stories say that he often came to this chapel to pray before his big voyages.
