Chapel of San Gonzalo
   Photo: Chapel of San Gonzalo

Chapel of San Gonzalo, or as it is called Capilla de San Gonsalino or San Gonzalo de Amarante, located near Vera Cruz. Chapel was built in 1714 and dedicated to Gonzalo saint who healed the bone disease as well as helping to resolve family problems.

Gonzalo de Amarante was born at the beginning of the XII century, it was a Portuguese priest and a hermit until he became a monk of the Dominican Order. It is worth noting that the Dominican Order was one of the first mendicant orders, whose members have taken a vow of poverty. Gonzalo de Amarante died in Amarante, so his name and added "Amarante". Holy is buried in the chapel of the monastery, which in Amarante named in his honor, as well as the most revered saint in this city. In 1560, Pope Pius IV canonized Gonzalo de Amarante.

Chapel built of limestone, brought from the area of ​​Ansan, Coimbra. Above the entrance to the chapel there is a niche, which is decorated with a statue of St. Gonzalo. Inside is an altar of the XVIII century.

There are even so-called cookie Holy Gonzalo - "bolosh de San Gonzalo", which are considered a symbol of fertility. Pastries baked on a holiday in honor of the saint and have a phallic shape, although there is still debate over the relationship of cookies with the name of St. Gonzalo. On this day, the people go outside in their national costumes, participate in the process and share these cookies.

In Aveiro festival in honor of Saint Goncalo held on 10 January. As people take to the streets dressed in national costumes, share a liver, and in the chapel of San Gonzalo performed a ritual dance group of men - "doshas mankosh dance."

In 2003, a chapel was added to the UNESCO list of public importance.

  I can complement the description