Coimbras Chapel - History

History

The chapel had its base in the ecclesiastical residence of the Coimbras family, and its patriarch D. João de Coimbra, who purchased this home in 1505. The providor for the bishopric of Braga, João constructed the chapel between 1525 and 1528, under archbishop D. Diogo de Sousa. It is likely that this chapel was annex of the primitive church of São João do Souto, as one of the lateral chapels. Artists from Biscay were contracted to complete the project while they were working in the medieval city, that included Palace of Biscainhos. These included Filipe Odarte, who was responsible for the main church, and sculptures by Hodart (exterior carvings) and João de Ruão (retable and tomb sculptures), as well as the family coat-of-arms of D. Diogo de Sousa (in the portico). In 1530, a brotherhood was instituted support the services in the chapel.

In 1906, the Palacete of the Coimbras was demolished, due to the redesign of urban space, creating the Largo São João do Souto. The Manueline elements were preserved and a new building was constructed opposite the road. The Casa dos Coimbras retained the windows and a few of the doors from the original structure, while modifying the structure of the Manueline building.

It was classified by IPPAR (a forerunner of the Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico (IGESPAR) as a national monument on 16 June 1910. The first interventions occurred in 1936: renovations to the ancient chapel included supporting the walls and reconstruction of the ceiling.