Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Aracelis
We visited two small chapels, when we were staying with our friends at Herdade do Laranjo e S Pedro. Above is an image from Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Aracelis. It was likely built in the 16th century. The name indicates that it was both an hermitage and a chapel, but I haven’t found any documentation showing its role as an hermitage, whereas Aracelis comes from the Latin Ara Coeli, meaning “altar of Heaven”.
The Chapel stands on a rocky hill between Castro Verde and Mertola. Long before a chapel was erected there, the place was used as a lookout by both the Romans and the Moors. We visited an evening with dramatic clouds and the views of the surrounding landscape were impressive.
The Chapel of Sao Pedro
When Siggi and Katharina acquired Herdade do Laranjo e S Pedro it had a small chapel on its grounds. The chapel is called Sao Pedro and has given the name as well to the estate. As happens with many of those places, it had been neglected and at one time been used as a sheep shed. The Chapel goes back around 800 years, and Siggi & Katharina carefully and lovingly restored it. In its simplicity it was quite mesmerising .
Next to Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Aracelis was a little bar/restarurant where we had a beer (or two) after having visited the chapel.
