Capela de Ánimas, Neoclassical chapel in Santiago de Compostela, Spain
The Capela de Ánimas is a Neoclassical building with classical columns and a refined front entrance near the Plaza de Cervantes. The interior contains simple religious furnishings that reflect its function as a modest house of worship for the community.
The chapel was completed in 1788 under architect Miguel Ferro Caaveiro using Neoclassical design principles. Its construction took place during a period when Santiago was modernizing its architecture and religious buildings reflected these new stylistic trends.
The chapel has served pilgrims walking the Way of Saint James for centuries and remains a place where visitors pause to reflect. It shows how people integrated prayer and rest into their journey through the old city.
The chapel sits in the old town along Rúa das Casas Reais and is easily reached on foot from the main square. Like other religious sites, it may have limited visiting hours and modest dress is appreciated when entering.
The chapel takes its name from Ánimas, referring to souls of the deceased, and was traditionally associated with memorial prayers. This religious purpose reveals how medieval beliefs about the afterlife shaped its spiritual role even in its later Neoclassical form.
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