Monuments

Construction of the Hermitage of Memória was commissioned in 1182 by D. Fuas Roupinho - a nobleman from this region who wanted to thank Our Lady for having answered his prayers, when she saved him from a mortal fall. While hunting a deer his horse almost leapt from a cliff into the sea, but stopped at the last moment.

The small-scale chapel with a pyramidal roof is located on the edge of the promontory, next to the rock that still bears a mark of the horse’s hoofprint - in testimony to the miracle. The interior of the chapel has a set of figurative blue and white azulejo tile panels depicting the apparition of Our Lady as the deer almost leapt into the void. The Chapel also contains a basement that corresponds to the cavern where the original image of the Virgin Mary appeared, from whom D. Fuas requested aid.