Abrir ListaThis chapel – now unexistent because it was demolished in 1942 by the the entity responsible for the National Monuments – was built by decision of Father Luis António da Cruz, in 1848, the same priest that founded the Instituto de Piedade e Beneficência (Institute of Pity and Benificence).
In fact, one of the dispositions of his testament, writen on September 16, 1848, was the donation of two thousand “cruzados” (currency in use) for the building of a chapel dedicated to the Holy Sacrament, in the main church of Viana do Alentejo. In what concerns this fact, there are a few more references to this chapel in his last will and testament. After distributing several pieces made of precious metals by different heirs, he determined that all the silver items found in his home should be used to make the most richest possible “píxide” and other silver objects for the cult in the chapel of the Holy Sacrament. Another disposition in his testament consisted in the establishment of a “Montepio” (an early form of a bank) that should donate, yearly, ten coins for wax for the altar of the Holy Sacrament as well as for the celebration dedicated to the same in his chapel.
The Chapel of the Holy Sacrament was finished in 1851 and the first celebration of the Holy Sacrament was on December 8th of the same year.
The access to the chapel was through the interior of the main church, as the chapel was also inside it, in the lateral wall next to the epistle. The chapel occupied, by then, part of the St. Luis square, overflowing through the south wall and next to the Matrix.
Túlio Espanca refers that the altar of the Holy Sacrament, “made of plaster and colorful wood, profoundly unbalanced the austere and ancient volumes of the temple, reason why it was dismantled (…) at expenses of the National Monuments of the South”.
In a Descriptive Document dated December 22nd, 1937, it is mentioned that “it was foreseen the demolition of several annexes that misrepresent the feature of this monument [castle] and also the building of walls in the places where the demolishing took place”. Through letters dated from 1942, it is known that some restoration works of the castle started on May 5th and ended in September of the same year. In a Private Adjustment Proposal, dated May 9th of the same year, the building contractor António Domingues Esteves, residing in Valadares, committed himself to execute, amongst other works, the demolition of the masonry walls” and the “reconstruction of walls by filling of cracks with mortar masonry, row by row, as the existing one”. It is, therefore, assumed that the demolitions foreseen in 1937 and the works and demolitions mentioned in 1942 have included the chapel of the Holy Sacrament.
The chapel was in fact demolished and there are no traces of its existence.
However, a “Report of Visitation” referring to that chapel was found in the Municipal Historic Archive of Viana do Alentejo. The reading of this text allows us to visualize its interior and even comprehend its external shape through the reference to the existence of a lantern on the top of the ceiling and three portholes in the lateral walls.
About the interior, we learn that it was spacious and well lit, with a predominance of marble and the colors white and gold. Panelled walls, pretending to be made of stone, with frames and sculptures that looked like big flowery decorative elements.
In what concerns liturgical tools, there is a document confirming the existence of a “píxide” in crafted silver and gold, two purifiers and four candlesticks together with other tools from the Parish and Sisterhood of the Holy Sacrament. It is possible that the mentioned pieces, or part of them, would be those the execution of which was ordered by Father Luis António da Cruz in his testament.
Due to its architectonic and decorative features, it was considered that the building was out of line with the late medieval context to which it was annexed. This determined its demolishing less than a hundred years after it had been concluded.
REFERENCES:
FARRICA, Fátima, No Espaço e no Tempo: Contributos para a História das Instituições de Viana do Alentejo (séculos XIV-XX), Casal de Cambra, Caleidoscópio, 2015.
http:/www.monumentos.pt
In fact, one of the dispositions of his testament, writen on September 16, 1848, was the donation of two thousand “cruzados” (currency in use) for the building of a chapel dedicated to the Holy Sacrament, in the main church of Viana do Alentejo. In what concerns this fact, there are a few more references to this chapel in his last will and testament. After distributing several pieces made of precious metals by different heirs, he determined that all the silver items found in his home should be used to make the most richest possible “píxide” and other silver objects for the cult in the chapel of the Holy Sacrament. Another disposition in his testament consisted in the establishment of a “Montepio” (an early form of a bank) that should donate, yearly, ten coins for wax for the altar of the Holy Sacrament as well as for the celebration dedicated to the same in his chapel.
The Chapel of the Holy Sacrament was finished in 1851 and the first celebration of the Holy Sacrament was on December 8th of the same year.
The access to the chapel was through the interior of the main church, as the chapel was also inside it, in the lateral wall next to the epistle. The chapel occupied, by then, part of the St. Luis square, overflowing through the south wall and next to the Matrix.
Túlio Espanca refers that the altar of the Holy Sacrament, “made of plaster and colorful wood, profoundly unbalanced the austere and ancient volumes of the temple, reason why it was dismantled (…) at expenses of the National Monuments of the South”.
In a Descriptive Document dated December 22nd, 1937, it is mentioned that “it was foreseen the demolition of several annexes that misrepresent the feature of this monument [castle] and also the building of walls in the places where the demolishing took place”. Through letters dated from 1942, it is known that some restoration works of the castle started on May 5th and ended in September of the same year. In a Private Adjustment Proposal, dated May 9th of the same year, the building contractor António Domingues Esteves, residing in Valadares, committed himself to execute, amongst other works, the demolition of the masonry walls” and the “reconstruction of walls by filling of cracks with mortar masonry, row by row, as the existing one”. It is, therefore, assumed that the demolitions foreseen in 1937 and the works and demolitions mentioned in 1942 have included the chapel of the Holy Sacrament.
The chapel was in fact demolished and there are no traces of its existence.
However, a “Report of Visitation” referring to that chapel was found in the Municipal Historic Archive of Viana do Alentejo. The reading of this text allows us to visualize its interior and even comprehend its external shape through the reference to the existence of a lantern on the top of the ceiling and three portholes in the lateral walls.
About the interior, we learn that it was spacious and well lit, with a predominance of marble and the colors white and gold. Panelled walls, pretending to be made of stone, with frames and sculptures that looked like big flowery decorative elements.
In what concerns liturgical tools, there is a document confirming the existence of a “píxide” in crafted silver and gold, two purifiers and four candlesticks together with other tools from the Parish and Sisterhood of the Holy Sacrament. It is possible that the mentioned pieces, or part of them, would be those the execution of which was ordered by Father Luis António da Cruz in his testament.
Due to its architectonic and decorative features, it was considered that the building was out of line with the late medieval context to which it was annexed. This determined its demolishing less than a hundred years after it had been concluded.
REFERENCES:
FARRICA, Fátima, No Espaço e no Tempo: Contributos para a História das Instituições de Viana do Alentejo (séculos XIV-XX), Casal de Cambra, Caleidoscópio, 2015.
http:/www.monumentos.pt
MUNICÍPIO DE VIANA DO ALENTEJO