Capela de São Pedro de Balsemão Shrine, Portugal

Visit this visigothic chapel in the surroundings of Lamego, Portugal.

Capela de São Pedro de Balsemão Shrine
© Paul Barker Hemings

The Capela de São Pedro de Balsemão is a monumental and mysterious chapel which is believed to have been built by the Visigoths during the 6th century. It’s hidden in the town of Balsemão, little more than 3 kilometers from the city of Lamego, northern Portugal.

This chapel features Corinthian columns, half-pointed arches, and walls with sculpted symbols.

Under the flooring is buried Alfonso Pires, the Bishop of Porto, who ordered to decorate this chapel during the 14th century.

The entrance chamber is dominated by an old coffin held by lions and, on one side, showing the scene of the Last Supper, whereas the other shows the Crucifixion.

You can get to this chapel by quietly walking from Lamego, crossing an old village and through a lush trail along the banks of the Balsemão river. Getting then can be effortless, since it’s a negative slope, whereas the return can be harder.

More information:

Location:

Balsemão, Portugal.

Ticket price:

Free admission.

Opening hours:

Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 18:00.
The chapel closes during the third weekend of each month.

Mapa Interactivo:

Lamego

What to see:

Other worth-visiting nearby towns and cities:

Why "Portugal Travel"?

Portugal Travel is an organization of Portuguese agencies whose objectives are:

✓ To make Portugal, its culture and its heritage known.
✓ To promote sustainable tourism.

In collaboration with:

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril

Turismo de Portugal