Parques de Portugal

N. Sra. da Lapa chapel (viewpoint and vultures)

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Built in a worship space in the fields and montados surrounding the villages of Alegrete and Besteiros, the Chapel of N. Sra. da Lapa is a pinnacle of stories, pilgrimages and devotions with five thousand years of sacredness. Although it was built between the 16th and 17th centuries, with an ancient legend involving a medieval knight inlaid in its worship, recent discoveries illuminated traces of a rich and colourful prehistoric past. Under the main chapel altar a secret passage was found leading to a cave that under layers of time and lime, have revealed schematic cave paintings of reddish tones, dating between the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Periods.

 

In the valley of Soverete river near the chapel, observe the colony of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus), large birds that feed on dead meat and so contributing to the hygiene of fields. To gain altitude they take advantage of the heat waves gliding in circles, saving energy.

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  • Built in a worship space in the fields and montados surrounding the villages of Alegrete and Besteiros, the Chapel of N. Sra. da Lapa is a pinnacle of stories, pilgrimages and devotions with five thousand years of sacredness. Although it was built between the 16th and 17th centuries, with an ancient legend involving a medieval knight inlaid in its worship, recent discoveries illuminated traces of a rich and colourful prehistoric past. Under the main chapel altar a secret passage was found leading to a cave that under layers of time and lime, have revealed schematic cave paintings of reddish tones, dating between the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Periods.

     

    In the valley of Soverete river near the chapel, observe the colony of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus), large birds that feed on dead meat and so contributing to the hygiene of fields. To gain altitude they take advantage of the heat waves gliding in circles, saving energy.

  • Alentejo

  • Portalegre

  • Serra de S. Mamede Nature Park

  • No

  • Access coming from:

    - Alegrete (± 10 km) - M517, M1045 and M1045-1;

    - Portalegre (± 23 km) - N246-2 just to Alegrete and then M517 and M1045 to M1045-1.

     

    GPS: 39.238838, -7.244047

  • Religious

  • Rural.

  • Private

  • Sixteenth century

  • The festivities in honor of N. Sra. da Lapa take place on the last weekend of September.