The chapel, part of the Romanesque focus of “Ribeira Lima” (Lima’s River), was probably erected during the 12th century, as testifies a date inscribed in the lintel of the axial gate referring to 1190. In 1269, the “Ordem de Malta” (Order of Malta) took up residence in “Távora”. The 14th and 15th centuries brought up several structural modifications, beginning with the Presbytery’s renovation, then an annexation of a chapel dedicated to “St. Tomé”; the improvements finally ended in 1711, through a last intervention. The chapel is of funerary type as well as devotional. It structurally presents a longitudinal nave plant with a rectangular Presbytery and a nearby chapel. To the Southwest, nearby of several anthropomorphic tombs, was built the “S. Tomé”’s chapel. To the south skylight, two patented images of the decorated arch columns decoratively stand out, hypothetically representing two apostles, “S. João Baptista” and “S. João Evangelista”.
Location: Arcos de Valdevez
Location: Arcos de Valdevez
