Today is a day of celebration, and it is with great joy that we gather here before the Chapel of Our Lady of Affliction and the House of Fire, to celebrate not only the completion of a work, but above all the recovery of a piece of our history and our collective identity.

It is with a profound sense of responsibility, and also of pride, that I come, on behalf of all the technicians who contributed to this project, to share the intervention carried out at the Chapel of Our Lady of Affliction and the House of Fire, in Branzelo, Gondomar.

Two buildings that are much more than stone and wood: they are living witnesses of the history, the faith and the collective memory of a community.

The Chapel, built in 1884, is part of the religious heritage of the Douro. Its architectural simplicity and harmonious integration into the landscape give it a singular character. In the 1960s, it underwent a modification following the collapse of one of its walls.

The fire of 2024 brought destruction: the roof, the choir loft, the floors, doors and windows were severely damaged, and the interior and exterior plasters suffered widespread degradation. It therefore became urgent to intervene, before this heritage was lost forever.

The intervention followed international principles of conservation: Authenticity, minimum intervention, reversibility, compatibility, and, above all, heritage enhancement, respecting the symbolic, religious and community function of the Chapel.

The roof was rebuilt with a new wooden structure, breathable membrane and ceramic tiles compatible with the regional typology. Two discreetly integrated sprinklers now reinforce fire prevention and the safety of the building. The floors were redone, incorporating a cross-ventilation system created beneath the floorboards, allowing continuous aeration of the walls and floor, ensuring durability and environmental comfort. New wooden doors and windows, the choir loft and flooring were executed using artisanal techniques.

A new schist wall, 70 centimeters thick, identical to the originals, reinforces the structural coherence of the ensemble. On the exterior walls and stairways, the stone joints were carefully consolidated. For greater environmental comfort, a constant ventilation solution was introduced through double glazing, promoting air renewal and preventing condensation.

Architectural and decorative elements, such as granite stonework and metal pieces, were cleaned, consolidated and treated with meticulous attention. All works were, whenever possible, carried out manually, preserving the original elements.

The results of this intervention are clear:

• we preserved heritage that was at risk;
• we restored to the community the religious and social function of the Chapel;
• we reinforced local identity, returning to the population a space of memory and unity;
• we enhanced the cultural landscape of the Douro and its traditional materials; and
• we introduced universal accessibility, allowing everyone to enjoy this heritage.

This work was not only a response to a calamity. It was an act of preservation, a gesture balancing technical rigour, respect for authenticity and symbolic value.

It is important to emphasise that all of this was only possible thanks to the extraordinary work accomplished in just three months, as a result of the partnership created between Ismaili Imamat / AKTC, the Municipality of Gondomar, the Union of Parishes of Melres and Medas, the company Construções Belmiro Gomes e Filhos, and the property owners, in an exemplary union between community, public and private entities.

And a special word of gratitude to all the workers who never once said no, who carried out their tasks with great responsibility and craftsmanship, making it possible for us to be here today. Thank you.

Today, the memory, the devotion and the identity of Branzelo remain alive, projecting themselves into future generations.

Thank you very much.