Hermitage of Paiva

Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Conceição
Estrada Nacional 225
3600 Castro Daire
Portugal

Geographic Coordinate: +40° 55′ 20.60″, -7° 58′ 13.55″

On the outskirts of Castro Daire, ancient village of the district of Viseu, lies the Romanesque Hermitage of Paiva. This small temple of the twelfth century was founded by Roberto, Augustinian friar of the Presmontratense Order. The chapel is also known as Temple of Signs, due to the fact of having a multitude of stonework containing a wide variety of medieval signs.

The façade is torn by a slightly broken and jagged granite gateway arch, supported in small columns. The main chapel has an unusual and interesting polygonal form. Around the cornice run a series of cantilevers with reliefs of various masks and geometric and phytomorphic motifs.

The interior is austere and poorly lit, showing the body of a single nave covered with beautiful wooden ceiling with Mudejar motives. The entrance arch of the chancel is overtaken by a bright circular opening. The headboard is covered with a sturdy vault. The capitals of the columns inside the church are carved with various zoomorphic motifs, such as those that fall on the side of the Gospel, which represent two pelicans.

Inside the church of this hermitage will be presented on March 6th at 16h00 the sound installation “Riparian II” by the German sound artist Lasse-Marc Riek. This installation is based on audio recollections of “silences” made in April 2010 in 14 churches and chapels along the Paiva river, from Folgosa (Castro Daire) to Nodar (São Pedro do Sul).