Saturday 19 February 2011

Chapel Of Bones


Small interior chapel located next to the entrance of the São Francisco Church (1474 - 1550's), Évora, Portugal


The chapel gets its name because the interior walls are covered and decorated with about 5.000 human skulls and bones taken from cemeteries in churches and convents. It was built by a Franciscan monk who wanted to prod his fellow brothers into contemplation and transmit the message of life being transitory.

18 comments:

Sylvia K said...

That is fascinating! I think he got his point across!! Not my favorite decoration, but amazing nevertheless! You do find some great ones, JM! Love it! I'm now prepared for Sunday!!! Have a great weekend!

Sylvia

Travel France Online said...

Wow, that's quite something!
It reminds me of the Catacombs in Paris where you see millions of bones recovered from the city's disused cemeteries!
Very interesting but spooky! It would be a brilliant topic for Halloween...

Barb said...

I didn't know about this chapel so the photo's and history were very interesting to me....Barb

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

Very beautiful exposure and angle of composition. Nicely done.

Kenneth Larsson said...

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

Best Regards! :-)

Francisca said...

Chilling. I have no issue with death (only modes of dying) and this is over-the-top. I'm good with carpe diem. I'd be interested to hear what a "seer" can say about the "spirit" of this place. Awesome photos, JM.

Dina said...

Just beyond belief!

amatamari© said...

Oh an incredible series!
:-)
I love the light and forms, in particular the prospect and the intensity of the first click and the effect of the second!
:-)
Magnificent job, thanks for sharing!

Elettra said...

These photos are awesome, thrilling !!!!!

Fabien said...

J'ai été impressionné à chaque fois que j'ai visité cette chapelle, si macabre dans une si belle ville.
Le traitement de la dernière est impressionnant, mais la réalité est mieux rendue par les autres photos.

Siddhartha Joshi said...

This place is really something!!! I wonder how it feels to be inside a place like this...

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

I went into a bone chapel in Rome that was full of bones, many in geometric patterns. It is creepy, but it does cause one to reflect upon the transitory nature of life and the lives of those who lived before.

Lindsay said...

Incredible! I love the way your pictures are such an education. I'm learning such a lot about our wonderful world. Thank you

Halcyon said...

I also visited the bone chapel in Rome, although I can't remember the name of it anymore either. The catacombs of Paris also have many bone patterns. I find these places creepy, but oddly fascinating.

magda said...

Fantastic photos !!!!
Is very interesting !

Crazy Tourists said...

I can't believe that we didn't see it!!Very interesting and strange at the same time!

Ola said...

a liittle bit scary! anyway his ida was very right:)

Cezar and Léia said...

Impressionante, mas eu nao estou certa se ficaria a vontade num lugar desses!
Um estranho sentimento...
A segunda foto é fabulosa!Parabéns pelo post!
Léia