Chapel Of São Brás And The Tomb Of Teixeira De Macedo

In the heart of Vila Real's Old Town, the small chapel of São Brás is the oldest temple and the one that best illustrates the early history of the town. Its construction dates back to the decades following the founding of the city on January 4, 1289, by order of King Dinis. From an artistic point of view, the chapel attests to the modest resources available to the community in those early years, but it is classified as a national monument for its historical importance. The quadrangular interior has been transformed into a funerary chapel, filled with arches, where some of the most important men of the low-medieval city were buried. The most important tomb preserved here is that of João Teixeira de Macedo, a member of the Royal Council, who distinguished himself in the service of King Afonso V in North Africa. Next to the Chapel of São Brás is the Church of São Dinis, built in the 14th century.