Capela da Nossa Senhora das Salvas

Closed... History... In thanksgiving for an alleged miracle on the boat trip that brought her to Portugal (where she was to be the maid of honor of the future Queen D. Isabel), the Greek princess Betaça (or Vetaça) Lescaris had it built at the end of the 13th century / early 14th century, the early Church of Our Lady of Salas. The early church is a modest, single-nave building, but it quickly becomes a destination of intense pilgrimage. Perhaps in thanksgiving for the success of the trip to India, Vasco da Gama decides to rebuild the building from scratch, giving it a grander scale. The Order of Santiago, in conflict with Vasco da Gama, does not welcome rebuilding. Bishop Jorge de Lencastre determines that the change is not completed, ordering the confreres to expand the early temple. Despite the master's authority, the order is not heeded. After the chapel, with evident Manueline features, are placed next to the portal two tombstones that reinforce the position of the Gama: "This House of Our Lady of Salas had the very magnificent Lord Dom Vasco da Gama, Count of Vidigueira, Admiral and Vice-President. king of the Indies ". In the transition from the 17th century to the 18th century, the chapel undergoes important works (a "programmatic and aesthetic update within post-Tridentine costumes", in the words of José António Falcão and Ricardo Estevam Pereira, whose text "The Chapel of Our Lady of Rooms "included in the catalog" From Western Lusitana Beach "is a reference for a history of the monument). The most significant intervention was the installation in the chancel of a gilded altarpiece. The 1755 earthquake leads to works that significantly alter the configuration of the hermitage. In the early 1770s tiles were ordered to cover the interior of the church, forming a cycle alluding to the life of Mary. In this campaign of works, elements of rococo language are added to the altarpiece. Until the twentieth century, the chapel had houses for the pilgrims and the hermit's dwelling. The Directorate General of National Buildings and Monuments demolished them in 1961-62. The church was covered with ex-vows offered especially by the castaways who welcomed the protection of Our Lady of the Rooms. National Monument since 1922 (Decree-Law No. 8518 of 30 September 1922 JMS) The Church of Our Lady of Salas has undergone a process of restoration since the 1990s and is now open to the public with its available treasure. to visit. Look closely Golden carved high altar with image of Our Lady of Salas Altarpiece of the Lord of the Expiration Tile panel depicting Mary's life Limestone Portal (Manueline Style) Two Tombstones with Range Weapons Frame of the front (Our Lady of the Assumption), based on famous painting by Rubens

An interesting visit for history buffs.

A igreja foi mandada construir por Vasco da Gama, como atestam as lápides colocadas junto ao portal de traços manuelinos e mesmo numa pedra de fecho na abóbada da igreja, com o brasão de armas do navegador. De nave única o seu interior destaca-se, entre outros, o altar-mor com a imagem da Sr.ª das Salas, o painel de azulejos que cobre todas as paredes da capela e alusivos à vida de Maria e ainda uma imagem da Sr.ª da Graça do séc. XIV. Lamentavelmente não pudemos visitar a sala do tesouro, mas gostámos do que vimos!

Vista linda de Sines

Small chapel in Sines with characteristic buttresses on one side. The month of August is celebrated for Nossa Senhora das Salas.