Tiles tell tales. Here before us stands the Capela de S\u00e3o Sebasti\u00e3o. It is a small chapel with a bell tower near its gable. The main facade features a portal with a Manueline frame of vegetal ornaments.
This chapel is also known as Igreja de S\u00e3o Sebasti\u00e3o. The chapel dates back to the 16th century. Locals built it as protection against the plague.
Inside the Capela de S\u00e3o Sebasti\u00e3o, you will see it is fully lined with 17th-century tiles. These so-called carpet tiles create the illusion of two side altars. The tiles depict Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Above them, you will find figurative panels of Saint Francis and Saint Anthony.
The chancel is lined with tiles from the first half of the 1700s. The interior has a single nave with a chancel and high choir. Over the centuries the chapel underwent several restorations. The walls are covered with 17th-century carpet tiles. In the chancel, there are historical tile panels. They show episodes from the life of the patron saint.
Note the beautiful marble inlay work of various colors. Near the triumphal arch in the nave are two trompe-l’oeil altars. Inside the arch, you can admire significant fresco paintings.
The Capela de S\u00e3o Sebasti\u00e3o has a longitudinal layout. It consists of a rectangle for the nave and a quadrangular apse. The roofs have two slopes. The oriented frontispiece lacks a base. It features a broken arch portal with a faceted frame. The gable is topped with a stone cross. A small bell tower stands to the right.
Inside, the single nave has a panel ceiling. Images of Saint Sebastian and Saint John stand on simple pedestals. They flank the round triumphal arch. The arch is framed by a smooth torus on small columns. These have octagonal bases and vegetal capitals.
The arch is decorated with intertwined flowered stems and rosettes. These rise from basket-like bases. The foliage capital covers the arch’s intrados. The chancel has stone benches with patterned tile coverings. A small window with deep splays illuminates the space from the south. The floor is paved with slabs and a step. The polychrome ribbed vault features vegetal and anthropomorphic corbels. Floral bosses decorate it. The central boss has arrows alluding to Saint Sebastian’s martyrdom. A stone niche and altar table with a patterned tile front adorn the back wall.
The arch’s archivolt is sculpted. It features undulating intertwined stems with small flowers, fruits, berries, and acorns. Quatrefoil rosettes punctuate the design. The bases are decorated with intertwined patterns resembling baskets. The chancel’s vault is lowered and flattened. It is ribbed with primary ribs forming a four-pointed star. All are joined by curved ribs composing a circle. The support is provided by corner corbels. They are decorated with vegetal motifs and masks. Floral ornamentation finishes the bottom. All bosses are floral except the central one. It features the patron saint’s attribute on a shield.
The chapel fell into ruin in 1937. By 1941, the interior served as storage for the gravedigger’s tools. Restoration work began in 1956. The Capela de S\u00e3o Sebasti\u00e3o is classified as a Public Interest Property. This designation underscores its cultural importance. It ensures its preservation for future generations. Take a moment to appreciate the Capela de S\u00e3o Sebasti\u00e3o. It is a testament to Lisbon’s resilience. It is a beautiful blend of faith, art, and history.