Capela de Nossa Senhora da Ressurreição

“Lost and found.” These words echoed in the thoughts of Domingos Gonçalves Prada as he gazed upon the newly constructed Capela de Nossa Senhora da Ressurreição in 1697. The chapel, funded by the Confraria de Nossa Senhora do Postigo das Verdades, was nearing completion. Domingos, a canon and resident next to the Capela de Nossa Senhora da Ressurreição, made a proposition. He offered to endow the chapel and requested a personal access door from his house. In 1701, both the confraternity and the city council granted his request. Now, let us step back and admire this chapel. The Capela de Nossa Senhora da Ressurreição exemplifies the Mannerist style. Its rectangular layout is topped by a gable roof. The façade, framed by Tuscan pilasters, culminates in a triangular pediment. Inside, the Mannerist altarpiece hints at the burgeoning National Baroque style. Four paintings grace the altarpiece, depicting São Domingos, São José, São João Batista, and Nossa Senhora da Rosa. At the center, within a niche, resides the image of Nossa Senhora das Verdades. This 14th-century statue, crafted from Ançã stone, holds a unique story. It originally stood above the Postigo das Mentiras, a gate in the old city walls. This gate was later renamed Postigo das Verdades, giving the statue its present name. Fast forward to March 2018. The Capela de Nossa Senhora da Ressurreição reopened to the public, transformed into a Pilgrim Welcome Center. This rebirth was thanks to a restoration project by the Municipality of Porto. The project, “Caminhos de Santiago – Caminho Português da Costa,” received funding from the NORTE 2020 community funds. This chapel stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith and resurrection, in its many forms.