Capela de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação, Leiria

The culmination of my acquaintance with Leiria can be considered an ascent to the hill of St. Gabriel (Monte de São Gabriel), the highest point of the city. Here is the Church of the Incarnation, and the observation deck, which offers the best view of the city and the surrounding area. The hill got its name from a small chapel (Capela de São Gabriel) built by shepherds. It was here on June 11, 1588, that the event known as the miracle of Susana Dias (O milagre de Susana Dias) took place. This woman, who was paralyzed and had not been able to walk for 28 years, had a dream one night in which the Mother of God appeared to her and told the woman that if she could get to the old chapel on top of St. Gabriel's Hill, she would be cured of her illness. In the morning, Suzana asked her family to take her to the chapel for the next mass, during which she got up and walked to the altar, causing amazement among the priest and parishioners. The news of the miraculous healing spread throughout the area, and on the same day several more people got rid of serious illnesses, which was recorded in the church book. Thousands of pilgrims flocked to Leiria, and very soon the old chapel could not accommodate everyone. The pilgrims brought generous donations, and on September 24 of the same year, the local bishop, Don Pedro de Castilla (d. Pedro de Castilho) solemnly consecrated the laying of the foundation stone of a new magnificent church in the name of Our Lady of the Incarnation. The construction was carried out with donations from local craft guilds under the supervision of the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Incarnation. The main construction work was completed at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, but the building was regularly completed and renovated in subsequent eras. At the end of the 17th century, the interior walls of the church were covered with tiles (azuleiju), and the wooden altar was decorated with gilded carvings in the Baroque style. In 1773, a monumental Baroque church was built on the slope of the hill. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, the facade acquired the more austere neoclassical features that we see now. The building was surrounded by an arched gallery with columns and a wooden ceiling. In memory of the old chapel, a figure of the Archangel Gabriel appeared above the central arch of the portal. Unfortunately, I did not manage to get inside the church, but the guidebooks say that there are many interesting paintings there, including folk paintings depicting scenes of miraculous healings. I did not find any signs with the opening hours on the church itself, the official portal of Leiria indicates the time from 9 to 14 and to 18 on weekends and holidays, however, I was there at about 11 o'clock, but the church was closed, and I saw only a lone pilgrim with a rosary near it.