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The Chapel of Santa Catarina, also known as the Chapel of Souls (pt: Capela das Almas), is a chapel located on the shopping street of Rua de Santa Catarina, in the former parish of
Santo Ildefonso Santo Ildefonso () is a former civil parish in the municipality of Porto Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Po ...
, in the city of
Porto Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto c ...
, in
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
. It is particularly noted for the blue
azulejo (, ; from the Arabic ) is a form of Portuguese and Spanish painted Tin-glazing, tin-glazed ceramic tilework. ''Azulejos'' are found on the interior and exterior of church (building), churches, palaces, ordinary houses, schools, and nowadays, r ...
tiles on its exterior walls.


History

The chapel had its origins in an old wooden chapel built in praise of Saint Catherine. The construction of the present building began at the end of the 18th century, when the Brotherhood of Souls and Wounds of Saint Francis moved from the Monastery of Santa Clara to the Chapel of Santa Catarina. This led to an increase in popularity of the cult of Saint Catherine and to the decision to build a new chapel. The chapel has two sections, one lower than the other, and underwent expansion and restoration works in 1801.


Façade

The main facade has a framed door topped by a circular
pediment Pediments are a form of gable in classical architecture, usually of a triangular shape. Pediments are placed above the horizontal structure of the cornice (an elaborated lintel), or entablature if supported by columns.Summerson, 130 In an ...
. A two-part coat of arms is fixed to the tympanum, with the arms of
Saint Francis of Assisi Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone ( 1181 – 3 October 1226), known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italian mystic, poet and Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. Inspired to lead a Christian life of poverty, he ...
and Saint Catherine. To the left stands the bell tower, which has two floors: the first has a door with a small window, and the second has four windows topped by a balcony. The dome is topped with an iron cross. Also noteworthy is the stained-glass window that represents souls, created in the 19th century by the painter Amândio Silva. Until 1929, the neoclassical exterior surfaces of the chapel were plastered and painted white without tiles. The chapel's covering currently consists of 15,947 azulejo tiles that cover around 360 square metres of wall. The tiles were designed by Eduardo Leite and were made by the Fábrica de Cerâmica Viúva Lamego, in Lisbon. They represent the lives of Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Catherine, notably his death and her martyrdom.


Interior

The interior of the chapel is in neoclassical style. On the main altar is a large painting called "The Ascension of the Lord" by
Joaquim Rafael Joaquim Rafael Rodrigues (3 February, 1783 — 14 August, 1864) was a Portuguese painter, set designer and sculptor. He was appointed as a professor of drawing at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lisbon and became the First Painter at the Royal Court, ...
.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Capela de Santa Catarina, Porto Neoclassical church buildings in Portugal Roman Catholic churches in Porto Roman Catholic churches completed in 1929 18th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Portugal Buildings and structures with azulejos in Portugal