Capela das Caldas de Monchique

Capela das Caldas de Monchique is a small Catholic chapel within the Caldas de Monchique thermal spa complex, in the municipality of Monchique in the Algarve (Faro district, Portugal). It is also known as the Ermida das Caldas de Monchique or the Capela de Santa Teresa, the Chapel of Saint Teresa.

When and why was the chapel built?

The current building dates from 1940 and was built on the initiative of the organisation that runs the spa complex. The project was designed by architect Carlos Rebello de Andrade, with master builder João Moura overseeing the works. The chapel was planned to blend into the surroundings of the thermal complex where it stands.

Is it the first chapel at the springs?

No. The present building had a predecessor: in the 18th century, as part of a large programme by the Diocese of the Algarve to expand the thermal complex, an earlier chapel was built beside the springs. This shows that the spa has long had a religious side as well as a health-related one.

What does the exterior look like?

The chapel is built mainly of regional syenite, a stone typical of the nearby Serra de Monchique. The layout is simple: a single nave, a sacristy on the right, and a chapel at the head of the nave. The main facade is marked by an oculus (round window), a portal with a stone surround, and a covered porch supported by pillars and two columns.

What is inside?

The main decoration of the interior is a set of 18th-century azulejo panels, the glazed ceramic tiles Portugal is known for. They depict scenes from the life of Saint Teresa of Jesus, also called Teresa of Ávila, the reformer of the Carmelite Order. The panels are older than the present building, which points to a continuity of religious tradition at the site.

Why visit?

• The chapel is part of the historic spa complex, so it is easy to combine with a walk around Caldas de Monchique.
• It is an interesting example of 20th-century architecture that deliberately echoes local landscape and materials.
• The interior with 18th-century azulejos shows the typical Portuguese way of telling the stories of saints through tiles.
• Its modest size means a visit takes little time.

Frequently asked questions

Are Capela das Caldas de Monchique and Capela de Santa Teresa the same place? Yes. They are different names for the same chapel in the spa complex. Sources also use the name Ermida das Caldas de Monchique.

How old is the chapel? The building dates from 1940, but the interior holds 18th-century azulejo panels, and an earlier chapel at the springs was built in that century.

Who designed it? Architect Carlos Rebello de Andrade. João Moura supervised construction.

What is it made of? Mainly regional syenite, a stone characteristic of this part of the Algarve.

What do the tiles show? The life of Saint Teresa of Jesus (Teresa of Ávila), reformer of the Carmelites.

Where is it? In the Caldas de Monchique spa, in the municipality of Monchique, in Portugal's Algarve region.

The chapel is a good stop for anyone interested in the religious heritage and spa architecture of the Algarve. It combines a modest 20th-century structure with valuable 18th-century decoration, and its setting beside the thermal springs gives the place a distinct character.