Whatever the question, Love is the answer...

Whatever the question — Love is the answer...

Them bones them bones them, dry bones...

photo by C Z

Inside the Capela dos Ossos (Bone Chapel)

This extraordinary building is situated in the courtyard at the rear of the Igreja do Carmo church in Faro Portugal. 

I'd heard about this chapel, but had previously seen no images, so it was a complete surprise to walk through the doors and enter this unique space.

It was made from the exhumed bones of long dead Carmelite monks who had once served the city. It was inaugurated in 1816.

It's made from the bones of over a thousand monks.

Parallel lines of red bricks and even spacing of the skulls forms a strong geometric design.

The chapel is entirely made from bones, skulls and mortar.

Even the arched ceiling...

Macabre on one level, but also fascinating and humbling. There seemed to be little need for the inscription over the entrance: Pára aqui a considerar que a este estado hás-de chegar, which translates as: 'Stop here and consider, that you will reach this state too.'