SYMBOLS Stories of cultural life.

Manuel Dias de Freitas Chapel

The negotiant Manuel Dias de Freitas’ chapel (number 16), from around 1859, is part of a set of side chapels in which the drawers are positioned, not on the sides, but at the bottom, flanking the altar, The epitaphs can be seen not only through the gate but also through two gaps that flank it. The side walls of this tomb-chapel were covered in blue glazed tiles, complemented by a border of tiles displaying figures painted in black on a white background. All the figures are symbols of death or alluding to Christian virtues, being the first documented example in Portugal of single-figure tiles painted with funeral motifs. The plasterwork on the vault is also very interesting, also showing death iconography.