The Shrines are very small and simple chapels built in granite with panels of religious themes and altarpieces illustrating the trapped souls in purgatory.
In Vieira do Minho, these displays of Christian faith throughout the by rural paths and roads, inviting the faithful to pray for the souls of the deceased.
According to a survey prepared by Professor Ermelinda de Jesus Silva (2008), there are 72 Shrines in this municipality, being the Rossas parish that have the greater number of niches (15). This study reveals that the Shrine of Vilarchão are the most ancient, dating from 1772, but the most original, since they are composed of a granite panel where five faces among flames were carved.
Location: Vieira do Minho
