St. John the Baptist Hermitage (17th-18th century)
Share Image
Capela de São João Baptista is a small chapel of thick walls and how that clinging to the cliffs of the ridge. In the interior regard the front of the altar with polychrome tiles of the 17th century with animals and floral elements. The chapel decoration is completed with figurative tile panels of the 18th century, some quite damaged, with themes of life of the patron - St. John the Baptist - one of the most popular saints in this mountain range. The altar is in marble pink color, probably from the late 17th century.
To this chapel come people suffering from "mental diseases", believing they will be cured if, during the feast, they pass their hand over the head of the saint image.
According to oral tradition this place was the refugee of families from Torres Vedras fleeing from the plague. There they have built huts, but after the epidemic, they went down the mountain and settled in what is now Cabanas de Torres. (Cabanas means huts)
-
Capela de São João Baptista is a small chapel of thick walls and how that clinging to the cliffs of the ridge. In the interior regard the front of the altar with polychrome tiles of the 17th century with animals and floral elements. The chapel decoration is completed with figurative tile panels of the 18th century, some quite damaged, with themes of life of the patron - St. John the Baptist - one of the most popular saints in this mountain range. The altar is in marble pink color, probably from the late 17th century.
To this chapel come people suffering from "mental diseases", believing they will be cured if, during the feast, they pass their hand over the head of the saint image.
According to oral tradition this place was the refugee of families from Torres Vedras fleeing from the plague. There they have built huts, but after the epidemic, they went down the mountain and settled in what is now Cabanas de Torres. (Cabanas means huts)
-
Lisboa e Vale do Tejo
-
Alenquer
-
Serra de Montejunto Protected Landscape
Identification and Access
-
No
-
Access coming from:
- Alenquer (more or less 24 km) – take N9, N365 and N115. After Vila Verde dos Francos follow to Montejunto street to the top of the hills*; or
- Cadaval (more or less 14 km) – take N115-N115-1 direction Pragança. Pass this village and continue to Montejunto hills*.
*Follow the signs to Capela/N. Sra. das Neves.
Base Characterization
-
Religious
-
On the top of the hills.
-
Private
-
Seventeeth century
Tips
-
On St. John feast (June 24) some people climb up the hills to the hermitage, then is celebrated there a Mass with procession. The festivities continue in the village of Cabanas de Torres.
