Chapel of the Holy Trinity, Place of worship in Sintra, Portugal
The Chapelle de la Sainte Trinité is a small chapel inside the National Palace of Sintra, in Portugal. Its ceiling features mudéjar-style decoration, one of the best-preserved examples of this type of craftsmanship in the country.
The chapel was built in the 13th century under King Dinis and Queen Elizabeth of Aragon. It was later expanded and reshaped under King Afonso V.
The chapel was once reserved for royal ceremonies, and the king attended mass from behind a curtain, set apart from the rest of the court. This practice shows how closely the monarchy and the church were connected in medieval Portugal.
The chapel is inside the National Palace of Sintra, which sits in the town center and is easy to reach on foot. Visiting in the morning generally means fewer people inside the palace.
The wall decoration was restored in the 20th century using fragments that were only rediscovered decades after the original damage occurred. Without this chance find, part of the decoration would have been lost permanently.
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