Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte

The Capela de Nossa Senhora do Baluarte is a Roman Catholic chapel in the far north of Ilha de Moçambique in the same city. It is considered the oldest colonial building on the coast of the Indian Ocean and is the only surviving building in Manueline style in Mozambique.

History

It was built in 1522 by men of the Armada Pedro de Castro, who made here on their voyage to India stop. They were the same that led the first attack on the Portuguese Swahili settlement in the archipelago Quirimbas, from where they were pushed back.

The small chapel was built in the Manueline style, with one of two bars supported dome roof. The imperfect design is probably the inexperience of the builders owed. For the construction of hewn blocks were used and decorative elements that were brought back from the Kingdom of Portugal and were originally intended for India.

Was located on the site of the chapel before a battle station the artillery, enter the remains of the chapel, an unusual characteristic. Later, probably in the 17th century, the chapel received a stem such as the Portuguese churches in India. Today is the chapel within the Fortaleza de São Sebastião. It was restored with funds from the Portuguese Comissão Nacional para os Descobrimentos 1996.

Pictures

Chapel ( close-up )

Porch and entrance

Detail of the dome roof

Inside

Embrasure