Capela de S. Bento - EM1158 102

Natural

At the top of the “Ermida”, one of the hidden places of Rio Mau, in Ribeira do Neiva, is the São Bento chapel and one of the most typical festivities in honor of the Ermida patron saint is celebrated. The parties take place in July and attract hundreds of visitors.

In ancient times, many years before the fourteenth century, the hermitage of St. Benedict already existed in this place. In 1547 already it was without roof and with the walls very ruined. If it remained this way for many years is not known, but in 1618, after 71 years, it was restored. In the year 1651, as we read in the lintel of the side party, it was rebuilt and enlarged. In 1979 it was restored again, with the placement of a cement plate, covered with tiles on its facade, in the lambril interior and on both sides of the wall up to the height of the altar. The old pulpit was replaced by a cement ladder that overlooks the choir. It is worth mentioning in this chapel the old bell with a bell, which the works carried out in 1979 made it safe for many years. Formerly the party was held on July 11, the same day as the party of Pedregais. At that time anyone who went to the feast of S. Bento da Ermida could not go to the feast of St. Benedict of Pedregais. By this time the party-goers of these pilgrimages had been wary of everything from the fireworks, the size of the andores, to the arch of the pilgrimage, and even burned arches to one another. So the revelers of Rio Mau started to celebrate on Sunday after 11 July, and Pedregais continues to do his pilgrimage on that day.