Aveiro - Capela de São Bartolomeu

With around 80,000 inhabitants, Aveiro is the second largest city in the Centro region (after Coimbra).

Aveiro was a center of salt production and a trading center in the Middle Ages.

Born in Aveiro in the 16th century, Joao Affonso was one of the first seafarers to visit the rich fishing grounds of Newfoundland, and Aveiro's fishermen soon took an active part in the lucrative fishing industry there. As a result, the population rose to 14,000 inhabitants.
Due to a storm, the harbor entrance silted up in 1575 to such an extent that shipping and fishing were severely impaired. Fertile land became marshy. The population fell to around 3,500 by the end of the 18th century. Aveiro was slow to recover. In 1808, after several unsuccessful attempts, a new port entrance was opened.

The preserved chapel corresponds to the pediment of the main façade and the openings are decorated with shells, scrolls, wreaths and rosettes.

It is possible that there was once a chapel here, built to commemorate the royal wedding of D. Dinis and D. Isabel de Aragão, which was celebrated in this village in 1282. However, the current chapel was built in 1568 and reconstructed in 1778. It is built in the Baroque style and has a hexagonal floor plan.

It is only opened once a day, on August 24. On this day, the devil walks through the area and the faithful avoid risky work as strange occurrences can happen. Legend has it that St. Bartholomew only frees the devil on this day to escape his fury because he is chained up all year round.