Capela da Ermida

Clutching a worn rosary, Maria whispered, “Why is the Capela da Ermida always closed?” Her friend, Carlos, chuckled. “Not always, Maria. Remember the Festa de Nossa Senhora do Rosário?” The Capela da Ermida, nestled in Ílhavo, Portugal, isn’t your typical grand church. It’s a small chapel, dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Rosário (Our Lady of the Rosary). Its story is woven with the history of the Pinto Basto family, founders of the Vista Alegre porcelain factory. They resided in the nearby Solar do Paço da Ermida, and the chapel, built in 1904, was part of their estate. The family’s influence is palpable, even in small details like the 1891 baptism of Alberto da Maia Mendonça, where Nossa Senhora do Rosário was the godmother, represented by António Augusto Amador. The current Capela da Ermida isn’t the first chapel on this site. Records suggest earlier chapels, possibly devoted to São Cristóvão and later São Tiago. These older chapels vanished, likely due to road construction. An 1867 document mentions the “Irmandade de Nossa Senhora do Rosário” in the “Capela de S. Tiago da Ermida”. Sadly, this brotherhood no longer exists. However, the spirit of celebration lives on. Every year, on the first weekend of October, the Festa de Nossa Senhora do Rosário brings life back to the quiet Capela da Ermida. The chapel’s doors open, and the community gathers to honor their patron saint. Maria smiled. “The Festa. Of course! A time when the Capela da Ermida welcomes everyone.”