Charola

TEMPLAR CHAROLA

This was lhe oratory of the Order of the Templars in the Castle. lt is a compact, cylindrical structure with eastern influences from lhe 12th/13th centuries and undoubtledly mililary in order to protect the sacred, alluding to the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. On lhe inside it houses a central octogonal tambour with eight pillars, each composed of four addorsed columns, allowing ample room to pass through. In the early 1500´s, a wide arch was opened to the chancel that was it by an oculus, which on the outside was part of the decoration of the Chapter window. Diogo de Arruda did this work in the eral 16th century; João de Castilho was given the task of connecting the Chancel to the Charola by an annular vault. The entrance, a portentous doorway and richly decorated façade, are also by Castilho. The decoration of the Charola consists of Motifs on the structure of the tambour, paintings on the annular vault, wall paintings on the second level of the tambour (representing instruments of the Passion of Christ, by Fernãio Anes), eight of the fourteen originl panels are on the perimeter wall (by Jorge Afonso), wooden sculptures (representing Angels, Saints and Prophets) and a set of the Virgin with St. Jonh by Olivier de Gand.