The Big Report: Portalegre
The Big Report About Portalegre
The report that we
will deal with within the framework of the subject of Portalegre, will have a
concept close to the travel writing style of being an Erasmus student in
Portalegre, the process of our arrival in this city, and our experiences since
February.
The Part of the
"Story" Set in Turkey
We entered the
Erasmus exam last year and decided to come to Portugal together. Our
expectations were high, and we were quite stressed about all the document
processing that we were going through with the Portugal Embassy requirements to
get a visa. There were these times when we were almost about to stop our
processes and not come to Erasmus, but in the end, we supported each other to
not quit and keep everything on track. The main reason why the visa process was
long, grueling, and stressful was that the country we came from was a country
outside the European Union. Although Ata had the right to enter without a visa,
I had to get a visa for education... We made our appointments for our visa
interview; we can say that it was more than a month. Although it has been more
than a month, we could not yet realize that we would leave Turkey, and we were
constantly making jokes about how we would realize that we were “really” going
when we got on the plane. The people around us were quite excited about going
to Portugal. We were in mixed feelings rather than excitement. It was our first
time outside of Turkey for both of us and we couldn't predict what kind of
experience we would have. Ata had much higher expectations from the Erasmus
process, while Emirhan kept his expectations low after learning that we were
coming to Portalegre. One thing I should mention at this point is that we
thought we would come to the city of Leiria for months and we had adjusted all
our arrangements accordingly. We were informed that we were coming to
Portalegre relatively shortly before arriving in Portugal and we had to
re-investigate... you may be wondering how this is possible. Believe me, we
don't know either. Anyway, if we go back to our process in Turkey, it is very
useful to mention that. A large proportion of the young people in Turkey
express at every opportunity that they do not want to live in Turkey. For this
reason, Europe is a kind of salvation point for Turkish youth. It is debatable,
but considering the current situation in Turkey, it is a very justified demand.
After collecting more than 20 documents and spending large sums of money for
visa interviews, we finally had visa interviews. Now we would sit and wait a
long time to see if our visas were approved. Our visas were approved within a
month, in fact, we received our passports and visas the week before we came to
Portugal. Everything was catching up, and the closer our arrival was, the more
the tension grew. Emirhan had lived apart from his family before, but this long
process would be a first for Ata, but this situation did not seem to be a
problem for him. We were both trying to gather information about Portalegre and
making plans. Of course, the fact that we were coming to Portalegre and not
Leiria had demoralized us. Coming from a city of a few million to a city of a
few thousand would have felt strange, and it did. Due to the current exchange
rate and the low amount of grants, we would spend our scholarships carefully
and we would always feel under economic pressure, which I think is a situation
that no Erasmus student wants to experience. Our professors in Turkey were
giving us advice and conveying that they would support us in every field. It is
a very nice feeling to hear the people around us expressing that they will
support them in all kinds of matters, but unfortunately, its reality is
debatable. We assumed that Portuguese culture would be close to Turkey, but it
is possible to say that there are quite a few differences. While Ata expressed
that he would have difficulties in terms of food, Emirhan assumed that he might
have difficulties due to the language barrier. As a matter of fact, these
things we were worrying happened. Since we both have a structure that can adapt
to the conditions we are in, we thought that we would overcome the difficulties
we experienced in a short time, and this actually happened. Anyway, it was time to leave
Turkey. While Ata was going to make 2 flights on the same day, Emirhan was
going to get on the plane from Istanbul. Emirhan felt very sad when he said
goodbye to his family before moving to Istanbul. Ata, on the other hand, said
goodbye to his family before he took his flight to Istanbul in the early hours
of the morning, and strangely enough, he did not feel very sad, perhaps because
he often went out of the city to work and was away from his family for certain
periods. Ata and Emirhan had met at Istanbul Airport and the moment that had
been talked about and dreamed about for months was happening. We were really
going to Portugal. Eventually, we got into our plane and arrived in Lisbon
first. The first week was quite interesting, we were trying our best to explore
the town and all the things. I don’t want to take this part that long, Erasmus
experience in Portalegre is not as we expected. Quite disappointed because of
the opportunities we do have right now. Of course, we are trying our best but
could’ve been better in our opinion.
Portalegre in General
Portalegre was a
stronghold strategically located next to the border with Spain, only 74 kilometers
from Badajoz. The city burgeoned after the Renaissance period. Evidence of that
is the many buildings in the Baroque style in the historical center, making
Portalegre a charming place to take a walk.
Nowadays, this lively
city in the north of Alentejo has sixteen thousand inhabitants and stands
surrounded by olive fields, and a vast plain, just at the feet of the Serra de
São Mamede, making it an excellent base camp for many of the hiking trails.
Within the walls,
there are plenty of decaying Baroque manors, a remnant of the silk
manufacturing industry that flourished in the area. The whole industry sank in
1703 when the Methuen Treaty introduced English products into the market.
However, nowadays, Portalegre is still loyal to its heritage of fine fabrics, even
preserving the factory producing exquisite tapestries by famous artists and an
extraordinary museum of tapestries.
The center of the
city is the Rossio, a great square with the Tapestry Factory located in the
former Jesuit College, where the making process can be seen. In the Rossio, you
can also see the Igreja da Misericórdia Church (18th c.) and the Igreja do
Espírito Santo (14th-18th centuries).
In a lower area, a
little further beyond the market lies the São Bernardo Monastery with a
majestic mausoleum, a church covered in tiles from 1739, a Renaissance Portico,
and two open cloisters, one Renaissance with two orders, and another
Manueline-Gothic.
The main monuments of
the city are in the higher part of the hill. The Castle preserves its keep,
part of the bailey, and two towers joined by battlemented walls. From the
castle, you get excellent views of the Cathedral (16th century) in Renaissance
style, with a posterior façade in Mannerist style, three Baroque porticos, and
an interesting interior. To the right of the Cathedral stands the City Museum,
with one of the most important ceramics collections in Portugal. Beyond the
museum, an annex to the walls, stands the Amarelo Palace (17th c.) housing the
Museo da Tapeçaria Guy Fino (Tapestry Museum), exhibiting a collection of
Portuguese tapestries.
Near the Cathedral,
along the Rua do Comércio, you can exit the walled perimeter through the Portas
de Alegrett gate (14th c.), which links with the Praça da República square,
next to the José Régio Museum, which exhibits a large collection of 16ths to 19th-century
crucifixes and popular figurines. Near the city, you have the Serra de São
Mamede Natural Park, dominated in the northern part by oak and chestnut
forests, with São Mamede Summit on the top (1027 meters). It is also worth
visiting Crato (23 kilometers to the east), Alter do Chão (29 km to the
southeast), and Monforte (27 km to the south).
Portalegre’s History
According to a
frequently mentioned legend, described by Friar Amador Arrais in his 1589 work,
Diálogos, Portalegre was founded by Lísias in the 12th century BC, following
the disappearance of his daughter Maia. She was walking with Tobias when she is
coveted by a vagabond, Dolme, who kidnaps and murders Tobias.
Lísias is desperate
for his daughter's disappearance and goes in search of her, eventually finding
her dead by a stream named Ribeiro de Baco today. Lísias will die of joy when
she thinks she has seen her daughter extend her arms to her. The city that was
founded in the meantime was given the name of Ammaia. Lysias would also have
built a fortress and a temple dedicated to Bacchus on the site where the Church
of São Cristóvão stands today. According to Friar Amador Arrais, the ruins of
this temple still existed in the 16th century.
It is believed the
legend resulted from fantasies somehow supported by the existence of a
tombstone with a dedication to the Roman emperor Commodus (161-192), which was
probably brought from the ruins of the Roman city at São Salvador da Aramenha,
near Marvão, which is now commonly accepted as the Roman Ammaia referred to in
various historical sources.
The location of this
and other cities mentioned in sources from the Roman period, Medóbriga, was the
subject of controversy until, at least, the beginning of the 20th century, with
speculation until that time whether there were any important ancient
settlements in the area currently occupied by the city or in its surroundings.
The name Portalegre
comes from Portus Alacer (meaning "happy" port or crossing point). In
the 12th century, there was likely a village in the valley to the
east of Serra da Penha. The name of Portalegre, where one of the important
activities would be to provide shelter and food for travelers (hence the name
of the port, crossing point, or supply). The contrast of its green slopes and
valleys with the more arid and monotonous landscape to the south and north may
have contributed to its name. The village prospered. In 1129, it was a village
in the municipality of Marvão, becoming the seat of the municipality in 1253,
having been awarded the first charter in 1259 by Afonso III, who ordered the
construction of the first fortifications, which were never completed.
Along with Marvão,
Castelo de Vide and Arronches, Portalegre was donated by Afonso III to his
second son, Afonso. Porta de Alegrete, one of two gates of the curtain walls of
the Castle of Portalegre
The next king ordered
the construction of the first walls in 1290, which he would surround for 5
months in 1299, following the civil war that opposed him to his brother, who
asserted the throne claiming that Denis was an illegitimate child.
That same year, Denis
would grant Portalegre the privilege of not being assigned the lordship of the
village "neither the infant, nor the rich man, nor the rich lady, but
being of the King and his first heir son".
After Ferdinand I
died in 1383 without leaving any male heirs, Leonor Teles assumed the regency
of the Kingdom while she became acquainted with Count Andeiro, a Galician
nobleman. This situation upset a large part of the people, the bourgeoisie, and
a part of the nobility, as it was feared that this situation would reinforce
the claims to the Portuguese throne of John I of Castile, who was married to
Beatrice, the daughter of Ferdinand and Leonor.
This dynastic crisis,
which involved a warlike civil war between Portugal and Castile, would come to
be known as the 1383-1385 Crisis. The strongest party among those who opposed
the claims to the throne of John I of Castile and D. Beatrice supported the
coronation of John of Aviz.
Among the nobles who
supported John of Aviz was Nuno Álvares Pereira, brother of the then mayor of
Portalegre, Pedro Álvares Pereira, Prior of Crato, who was a staunch supporter
of Leonor. This position of the mayor provoked the revolt of the people of
Portalegre, which surrounded the castle and forced Dom Pedro to flee to Crato.
The former mayor would die in 1385 at the Battle of Aljubarrota, where he
fought on the opposite side of his brother, Nuno.
The town grew in
importance and on August 21, 1549, the Diocese of Portalegre was created, by a
bull of Pope Paul III, following steps in this direction by John III, who would
elevate Portalegre to the city on 23 May 1550.
The importance of the
city at that time was reflected, for example, in the volume of revenue from the
tax on Jewish quarters, which was like that of Porto, and only surpassed by
those of Lisbon, Santarém, and Setúbal. It was also one of the most important
fabric industry centers in the country, along with Estremoz and Covilhã. Engraving
depicting the siege of Portalegre by the troops of Philip V of Spain in 1704
Owing to its
proximity to the border with Spain, Portalegre endured many invasions by
foreign troops over the years.
In 1704, during the
War of the Spanish Succession, it was attacked and conquered by the army of
Felipe V; again in 1801 during the War of the Oranges, it surrendered to the
Spanish Army, to counter the French dominion. In 1847, it was occupied by
forces of the Spanish General Concha. Portalegre becomes the capital of the
homonymous district when the districts were formed on 18 July 1835.
Geography
Although the
landscape of the municipalities north of Portalegre is still typically
Alentejo, with relatively flat areas alternating with mostly relatively low
hills, Portalegre is often described as a transition zone between the drier,
flat Alentejo and the Beiras, wetter and mountainous. The terrain is more
varied than in the rest of Alentejo in general, which contributes to the
landscape having its peculiar characteristics.
The city is located
at an altitude of between 400 and 600 m (1,300 and 2,000 ft), in the transition
zone between the relatively flat landscape, but with many low hills to the
south and west, and the mountainous system of Serra de São Mamede, which
surrounds it to the north, east and southeast.
The geology is
varied, which translates into a variety of soils, with zones of schist,
greywacke, limestone, and quartzite.
The unique characteristics
of the landscape, flora, and fauna are at the base of the creation of the Serra
de São Mamede Natural Park, which includes a considerable part of the
municipality's area.
Towns and Villages
Located in the São
Mamede Hills close to the border with Spain, Portalegre retained strategic
importance for national defense throughout the Middle Ages. King Afonso III
(1248-79) granted the settlement its first royal charter before handing it over
to his bastard son Afonso Sanches. This move was far from popular with Dinis
(1279-1325), his brother and heir to the throne. In 1299, Dinis, already king,
returned Portalegre to the status of royal possession and ordered the
rebuilding of the Castle.
Also in medieval times,
the Franciscan order established a presence in Portalegre most notably in the
Convents of São Francisco (St. Francis) and Santa Clara (Saint Claire).
In the early 16th
century, after the founding of the Misericórdia de Portalegre (a nationwide
charity institution), the Bishop of Guarda, Jorge de Melo ordered the building
of the Convent Cisterciense de São Bernardo (Cistercians of St. Bernard).
Already an important administrative and economic center, it became a city under
king João III who further established the Diocese of Portalegre and ordered the
building of the Cathedral.
This decision was
further consolidated by decisions to go ahead with the Episcopal Palace and the
Diocese Seminary, now the Municipal Museum.
The 17th and 18th
centuries left a strong Barroque character to the city with monuments such as
the Church of São Lourenço (St Laurence) and the impressive Amarelo (Yellow),
Falcões (Falcons), and Achioli palaces. These are praiseworthy examples,
preserving the coats of arms of the families who built and richly decorated
them in forged iron, a unique regional feature.
After the prohibition
of religious orders in 1834, and with the beginning of the industrial
revolution, the city turned to renewal and converted some of the former
convents and palaces.
Examples of this are
the Convent of Santo Agostinho (St. Augustine) becoming the headquarters of the
National Republican Guard, the Convent of São Bernardo, and the Jesuit São
Sebastião (St. Sebastian) convent taken over by the Manufactura de Tapeçarias
de Portalegre (Carpet Manufacturing) or the Castel-Branco Palace that recently
became the Tapeçaria de Portalegre Guy Fino (Carpet) Museum detailing the
contribution made by the textile industry to the city´s development.
In Portalegre, a city
easily manageable on foot, there is also the Portuguese poet José Régio Museum
House. On the outskirts, attention goes to the views from the Church of Nossa
Senhora da Penha (Our Lady of Suffering) and the Church of Bonfim, located on
the road heading to Marvão and Castelo de Vide, both are well worth a closer
look.
Portalegre Wine
Portalegre is a
Portuguese wine region centered in the Portalegre municipality in the Alentejo
wine region. The region was initially an Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada
(IPR) region, then elevated to Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC) status.
In 2003, it became one of eight subregions of the Alentejo DOC. Its name may
still be indicated together with that of Alentejo, as Alentejo-Portalegre.
Located along the
Spanish border, it is Alentejo’s northernmost subregion. The area is known for
its powerful, spicy red wines and highly alcoholic white wines.
About the grapes principal
grapes of the Portalegre region includes Aragonez, Arinto, Assario, Fernao Pires,
Galego, Grand noir, Manteudo, Periquita, Roupeiro and Trincadeira, with
Trincadeira being the leading grape variety.
Map 1: Portuguese Wine Regions
Portalegre City
Museum
The Portalegre
Municipal Museum is in the Diocese Seminary building ordered by Brother Amador
Arrais late in the 16th century. Restructured in 1765 by bishop João de
Azevedo, his coat of arms is on the façade featuring all the characteristics of
a noble 18th-century residence.
The collection is
made up of religious pieces originally found in the convents of Portalegre the
Convents of São Bernardo and Santa Clara in addition to private collections
donated to the Museum. They include the collection of Dr. Cayola Zagallo,
responsible for founding this museum in the 1960s, local citizen Herculano
Corvelo (for the around 800 depictions of Saint Anthony from the 15th century
onwards), Abel Santos (paintings completed while he lived in the city in the
mid-20th century) and José de Andrade Sequeira, a Naval Medical Captain, who
collected snuff boxes and Chinese porcelain while on his voyages.
In terms of the
religious art, highlights include the low-relief gothic "Piety" (15th
century), the Italian origin high-reliefs in ivory (18th century), the
Indo-Portuguese Our Lady of Conception (17th century), and the picture of Our
Lady of Patience (16th century), in which Christ is sat in a thoughtful pose.
Portalegre Landmarks
Catedral de
Portalegre
The construction of
the Cathedral was due to Bishop Dom Julião de Alva, on the occasion of the
formation of the Diocese of Portalegre. Work began on May 14, 1556, on land
where the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo had previously been built, although
expropriations for the new temple had already begun in 1553, under the Charter
of King João III. For the success of the new architectural undertaking, Dom
Julião de Alva had, from an early age, the royal patronage, translated into
financing for materials and labor.
The support granted
by D. João III and also by Queen Dona Catarina to major architectural
undertakings, such as the Cathedral of Portalegre, Elvas or Leiria, led to
their integration into the great current of reformed Mannerism, dear to the
tastes of the crown and an effective instrument of the post-Trent Church. These
reasons explain its strong presence in the national territory and its longevity
in regions of the interior of the country.
With a project by
Afonso Álvares, it was started in 1556. Its last stone, the closing of the
vault, was placed in 1575, having been completed and consecrated in the same
century.
In 1795, by order of
Bishop D. Manuel Tavares, it was restored, dating from this period to its
current appearance. On that occasion, he also expanded the Episcopal Palace,
erected a building of his own for the Office of the Ecclesiastical House, and
ordered the construction of the Church of São Tiago.
Maria II of Portugal
offered the Cathedral of Portalegre a bell cast in Estremoz. Beginning in
February 2021, it underwent renovation works on the building itself and the
movable and integrated heritage (restoration of the altarpieces, paintings,
images, tiles, etc.)
Bernard's
Monastery
A Cistercian order
monastery of nuns, founded in the 18th century by Jorge de Melo, the Bishop of
Guarda. In 1879, the Diocesan Seminary was installed in the Monastery, but the
space is presently occupied by Portalegre’s Rural Police Training School.
José Régio
House-Museum
The José Régio House
Museum is installed in the building where the poet lived for 33 years. Several
pieces from the collection on display call the attention, particularly a
collection of Christs and Saint Anthony’s, as well as several shepherd’s artifacts
and the poet’s extensive library.
Municipal Museum
An old Diocesan
Seminary has now on display a large selection of antiques, including a 16th-century
Renaissance-style Italian armoire, an Indo-Portuguese Virgin of Conception in
ivory from the 17th century, a set of small dishes in Portuguese “ratinho”
style from the 19th and 20th centuries and a Clément voiturette automobile
built in 1900.
Castle of Portalegre
Portalegre Castle was
built in 1290 in the highest part of Portalegre, as ordered by King D. Dinis to
defend the border with Spain. The castle featured a double wall, twelve towers,
and eight gates.
From the original
construction, only the three restored towers remain and offer excellent views
over the city and some fragments from the walls.
In the 1930s,
important parts of the walls were torn down to build roads. In 2006, the walls
were united to the towers using a modern wooden structure designed by Cândido
Chiva Gomes. The first floor hosts temporary exhibitions.
The Castle of
Portalegre (Portuguese: Castelo de Portalegre) is a Portuguese medieval castle
in the civil parish of Sé e São Lourenço, municipality of Portalegre, district
of Portalegre. It stands out over the older part of the town because of its
imposing location over a higher area and because of the contrast between its
dark walls and the prevailing whitewashed houses. It served chiefly as a defense
of the frontier zone in front of Castile.
The earliest
historical references date from the reign of Dom Afonso III of Portugal, the
king who conceded the first charter to Portalegre in 1259, which gave it the
status of vila (town) and made it the capital of a new autonomous municipality.
Starting in 1290,
Afonso III's son, the king D. Dinis, reinforced the castle and built the city
walls, motivated by the increasing need of defending the frontier and the
increased importance of the town.
In the course of a
dispute for Portalegre's ownership between him and his brother Afonso of
Portugal, Lord of Portalegre, D. Dinis would attack the fortifications he had
ordered to be built in 1299 who also claimed the Portuguese throne. In the 16th
century the city walls and the castle, namely the keep, were reinforced.
In course of the
Portuguese Restoration War, the defenses of the town were renewed and
reinforced again, between 1641 e 1646. They were not effective enough to avoid
that the town was occupied in 1704 by French and Spanish troops during the War
of the Spanish Succession.
In the Peninsular War,
there were combats in 1808 against the Napoleonic troops stationed in
Portalegre, an event that may have triggered the French general Louis Henri
Loison to impose a heavy tribute to the town.
The castle was listed
as a national monument in 1922, but only it was only in the 1960s that any
serious restoration works carried out. In the late 1990s, there were more
restoration works. In 1999 the Núcleo Museológico do Castelo, a small museum
was founded. It displays weaponry from the 15th century to World War I.
Palácio Caldeira de
Castel-Branco Barahona
The Palácio Caldeira
de Castel-Branco Barahona also referred to simply as Palácio Barahona, is in
the parish of Sé, in the city and municipality of Portalegre, district of the
same name, in Portugal.
It is located in the
current Largo Serpa Pinto, giving its garden to the castle, which was also part
of the heritage of the Caldeira de Castel-Branco family.
It was built in 1800
by João Zuzarte Cid and was later acquired by the Caldeira Castelo Branco
family (Castel-Branco).
It was the residence
of the family and descendants of D. Francisco Cordovil Caldeira de
Castel-Branco, noble knight of the Royal House and Commander of the Order of
Christ, second son of the house of the lords of these nicknames, whose original
manor was the emblazoned palace on Rua da Figueira, in Portalegre, and his
wife, D. Maria José de Barros Castelo-Branco Barba Mouzinho e Mattos, lady of
several estates and representative of the Barba Mouzinho e Mattos family, from
Castelo de Vide and Marvão.
In this palace were
born, among others, D. Maria Ana de Mesquita Marçal Cary Rebelo Palhares
Caldeira Castel-Branco, Viscountess of Alter by marriage with her cousin D.
António Mendo Caldeira de Castel-Branco Cotta-Falcão; Inácio Cardoso de Barros
Castel-Branco Barba Mouzinho e Mattos, D. Maria Inês de Barahona Caldeira de
Castel-Branco, wife of Admiral João António de Azevedo Coutinho Fragoso de
Sequeira (grandparents of D. Manuel de Almeida and Noronha de Azevedo Coutinho
- 10th Marquis of Angeja, 13th Count of Vila Verde, 5th Count of Peniche, 4th
Viscount of Andaluz, etc.) and the Marquise D. Maria do Carmo Zuzarte de Sárrea
Caldeira de Castel-Branco, wife of D. António Pedro Maria da Luz de São Paio
Melo e Castro Moniz Torres e Lusignan, 3rd Marquis and 7th Count of São Paio.
The palace remained
in the family's property until the mid-1980s, when the family was forced to
sell it, despite the destruction to which it was condemned by the violent
occupations of the Carnation Revolution.
In this building,
since 1993, the District Archive of Portalegre has been housed, an organization
dependent on the Instituto dos Arquivos Nacionales/Torre do Tombo.
Monumento aos Mortos
da Grande Guerra
Capela de Nossa
Senhora da Penha
The Sanctuary of
Peninha (Portuguese: Santuário da Peninha) is situated in the Sintra Mountains
in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, in the Lisbon District of Portugal. It
stands at an altitude of 448 meters on top of a rocky outcrop, which provides
views over the coastline and inland areas. In addition to a baroque chapel,
completed in 1710, the location contains the Palace of Peninha, which dates
from 1918, as well as remains of a hermitage. The interiors of neither the
chapel nor the palace can presently be visited.
The Peninha hills had
been the location for a small hermitage ever since the foundation of
Christianity in Portugal. Evidence of the physical foundations of a medieval
hermitage can still be seen and archaeological excavations carried out by the
Sintra–Cascais Natural Park uncovered a necropolis made up of graves excavated
in the rock, with burials dating from the end of the 12th century, together
with a cistern dug into the rock. The Hermitage of San Saturnino was built on
the site in the mid-sixteenth century, added to in the seventeenth century, and
used by monks until the dissolution of the monasteries in Portugal in 1834. It
was still occupied by farmers until the 1960s when it passed to being used as a
barn.
The site became
popular during the rule of King John III of Portugal (1521 - 1557) as one where
the Virgin Mary appeared to a young shepherdess. Following earlier attempts to
build a chapel after the vision, the present Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Penha
was constructed by the monks around a century after the apparition, with
financial assistance from King Dom Pedro II, and was completed in 1711.
Inscriptions inside the chapel on the 1726 grave of the hermit, Pedro da
Conceição, and elsewhere, acknowledge his role in building the chapel. The
interior of the chapel, which is considered an excellent example of baroque
architecture in Portugal, is entirely covered by tiled panels representing
scenes of the life of the Virgin Mary, together with representations of the
Pentecost and the childhood of Jesus. There are also marble inlays. Given its
altitude of 448 meters and difficulty of access, visiting the sanctuary became
a form of penance, as well as a popular pilgrimage site for sailors’ families,
who would both pray for the safe return of the sailors and try to see returning
ships from the summit, which gives visibility out to sea of up to 50 kilometers.
In 1892 Peninha was
purchased by the first Count of Almedina. The final construction at Peninha was
a mansion built by the Portuguese entomologist and businessman António Augusto
Carvalho Monteiro, who also built the Quinta da Regaleira in nearby Sintra. The
uncompleted house followed the Romanticism style. It was never lived in as
Carvalho Monteiro died before its completion. His original plan had been to
build a smaller version of the Pena Palace in Sintra. In Portuguese “Pena”
means “rock outcrop”, while “peninha” refers to a smaller outcrop. On his death,
the property was sold to Dr. José Maria Ferreira Rangel de Sampaio who
requested an architect to prepare designs to finalize the work of the palace.
However, work was not carried out and after the death of Dr. Sampaio, he left
the palace for the University of Coimbra. The entire complex of 62 hectares was
purchased by the Government in 1991 and was placed under the management of the
Portuguese Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests.
Santa Clara Convent
The Contento de Santa
Clara (Santa Clara Convent) of Portalegre was established by Queen D. Leonor
Teles in 1376 in the same place where King D. Fernando owned a palace. The
convent was rebuilt and extended throughout the centuries. During the 15th and
16th centuries, the cloisters were modified and, in the 18th, extended with
more rooms.
From the original
convent, we preserve some parts of the cloister, with two fragments of the
pointed archways. In the center of the cloister, there is a triangular fountain
made of marble in a Late-Baroque style.
The tower and windows on top of the church are also worthy of attention. Currently, the building is the City Library.
Portalegre: What to See
Portalegre is both a district,
as well as a municipal capital. Its cultural wealth is to be mainly found in
its monuments and religious buildings: the Cathedral, with one of the best sets
of mannerist paintings in the country, but also the Castle, the Monastery of
St. Bernard of the Order of Cistercians – with a sumptuous tomb of its
founder-, Space Robinson, the Church of St. Francis, the Church of St. Anthony
by Carrilho da Graça, the Emblazoned Houses, the Town Gates, and República
Square.
One must also visit
its museums, such as the Municipal Museum, narrating the town’s history, the
Emílio Relvas Museology Hub, dedicated to handicrafts, the José Régio
House-Museum, with collections of Religious and Decorative Arts, and the Guy
Fino Tapestry Museum of Portalegre, the town’s ex-libris.
Savor the town’s
typical dishes such as the tomato soup or the potato soup, the dogfish in
garlic sauce, the sarapatel, Cachola (pork meat) soup, the various types of gas
(bread broth) with fried pork meat. In the conventual confectionery area, the
highlights go to the lamprey, the golden cheese, the fates (egg and almond
dessert), the egg candies, the major Branco (white delight), and the Coutinho-do-céu.
The boleimas (a cinnamon pound cake) and the famous Portalegre almonds are also
of renowned quality.
Portalegre's Gui Fino
Tapestry Museum
Guy Fino (Museu da
Tapeçaria de Portalegre - Guy Fino) opened in 2001 and is specifically
dedicated to the presentation, conservation, and study of a fundamental part of
the national artistic heritage represented by Portalegre Tapestries. It is located
in the Palace of the Counts of Castelo Branco. Established through the support
of the Portuguese Institute of Museums and the Portalegre Tapestry Manufacturer,
who contributed with a significant set of tapestry collections.
The Portalegre
tapestry materialized in 1946, when Guy Fino and Manuel do Carmo Peixeir
decided to make mural tapestry using an original stitch, the “Ponto de
Portalegre”, invented by Manuel do Carmo Peixeiro.
The collection includes works by a wide variety of over 200 artists, national and foreign, who have collaborated with the Portalegre Tapestry Manufacturer. To name a few: Almada Negreiros, Júlio Pomar, Vieira da Silva, Lourdes Castro, Joana Vasconcelos, Guilherme Camarinha, Le Corbusier, Jean Lurçat, and Malagantana. There are permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Economy
Portalegre is an
important commercial and industrial center, standing out in the Alentejo
panorama. The textile industry stands out, with the manufacture of woolen
fabrics, synthetic fibers, and upholstery. There are industrial units for the
manufacture of cork stoppers, tin, and soft drinks. Agriculture continues to be
an activity of great significance in the region's economy, producing cereals
(wheat, corn, rye, and barley), olive oil, cork, chestnuts, and wine. Cattle,
sheep, goats, pigs, and horses are raised, with pig farming being well
developed, supporting the production of sausages.
Tourism, namely rural
tourism, is increasingly presented as a growing activity with strong potential
for the development of the district.
It is the seat of the
municipality of Portalegre with an area of 447.14 km², which in 2021 had 22,368
inhabitants (2021) and which is subdivided into 7 parishes. The municipality is
limited to the north by the municipality of Castelo de Vide, to the northeast
by Marvão, to the east by Spain, to the south by Arronches and Monforte, and to
the west by Crato.
It is the district
capital with the least population in Portugal. With 14,335 inhabitants in 2021
in its urban core, it is the second largest city in its district, after Elvas,
which had 16,084 inhabitants in its urban perimeter in the same year.
Chronology
Ø
century XIII — The fortress is remodeled by D.
Dinis; the foundation of the Convent of São Francisco.
1259 — Possible granting of the charter by D.
Afonso III.
1376 — The Convent of Santa Clara is founded.
1387 — D. João I grants Portalegre the title of
"Leal", grateful that the city has fought for his cause.
1511 — D. Manuel I grants a new charter to the
town.
1533 – D. João III makes it the seat of a new
correction.
1550 — Portalegre is elevated to the category of
city and the seat of a new diocese.
1552 — Beginning of the construction of the
Convent of Santo António.
1556 — Beginning of construction of the
Cathedral.
1605 – The Jesuits install the Colégio de São Sebastião in the city.
1640 — Portalegre is one of the first towns in the country to recognize independence from Portugal.
1683 — The Convent of Saint Augustine was founded
Ø1704 – Philip V of Spain conquers Portalegre during the War of the Spanish Succession.
1772 – On the initiative of the Marquis of Pombal, the Royal Wool Factory of Portalegre is founded, popularly known as Fábrica Real, which is installed in the former Jesuit College of São Sebastião.
1801 – Portalegre is conquered by the Spanish during the War of the Oranges.
1808 – During the French invasions Portalegre pays a heavy tribute imposed by French general Loison ("the one-armed".)
1835 — Portalegre becomes the district capital following the creation of these administrative divisions.
1848 — English cork industrialist George Robinson settles in Portalegre; the famous Plátano do Rossio is planted.
1947 — The Portalegre Tapestry Manufacture is created
Traditions and
Gastronomy
The municipality of
Portalegre is very rich in traditions. There are several associations that are
dedicated to the preservation of the local cultural heritage, namely costumes,
gastronomy, folklore in general, traditional songs, and forms of balhar
(dancing). See Cultural and Folkloric Associations.
Some of the popular
traditions:
Olive harvest (in
autumn)
Harvest (of wheat and
barley)
Parade das Maias — a
parade of girls dressed in white adorned with marigolds, on May 23, the city's
day.
Going to the cob on
the day of the cob (Thursday of the cob or Ascension)
The writer José
Régio, a passionate amateur scholar of local folklore and collector of popular
handicrafts, describes these and other traditions in some of his works.
Craftsmanship
There are references
dating from 1778 relating to Alentejo handicrafts that were sold in the Campo
Grande de Lisboa market. From the wise hands of the artisans from Portalegre,
iron lamps came out for the mills, rag dolls, towel racks, aprons,
three-legged, and orange wood spoons delicately embroidered with a razor,
Spanish-influenced wooden castanets, troughs, tarros, and corneas for olives.
See also Tapestries
of Portalegre.
Convent Sweets
In the past, the
convents of Portalegre exerted a great influence on the life of the city, which
came to be known as the "city of seven convents". For this reason, it
is not surprising that many conventual recipes exist here. The tradition of
making convent sweets is still very much alive and has its origins mainly in
the recipes of the Convento de Santa Clara and the Convento de São Bernardo,
which are jealously respected.
Tapestries of Portalegre
The Portalegre
Tapestry Manufacture manufactures decorative wall tapestries using a completely
manual technique unique in the world, based on the so-called Portalegre stitch,
invented by Manuel do Carmo Peixeiro, who was inspired by the French tapestries
of Roubaix and the wool weaving traditions of the interior. of the country,
strongly implanted in Portalegre since the Middle Ages.
The starting point of
any tapestry is a work by a renowned painter, Portuguese or foreign, with whom
contracts relating to copyright are established for the reproduction of the
work in wool. The Portalegre Guy Fino Tapestry Museum has several tapestries
from Portalegre on display.
The Portalegre
Tapestry Manufacture began to be installed in 1947 in the former Jesuit convent
and college of São Sebastião, which in the 18th century was converted into the
Royal Wool Factory of Portalegre by order of the Marquis of Pombal. This
building has been the seat of the city council since 2005, and the manufacturer
was transferred to a building next to the convent of São Francisco.
Transport
There is a municipal
public transport service by road. In 2014, a mayor of Barreiro considered that
this is a type of “rare public service, only existing in five municipalities in
the country”.
Media
Fonte Nova weekly
newspaper
Alto Alentejo weekly
newspaper
Radio Portalegre
Educational
Establishments
Portalegre is a city
where the presence of students is very strong, since three of the four schools
that make up the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre are located in the city
and have around 3,500 students, that is, more than 20% of the population
permanently residing in the city.
Illustrious
Personalities Linked To Portalegre
Cristóvão Falcão — Poet and diplomat from a noble family with roots in Portalegre, it is assumed that he may have been born in the city in an uncertain year (1512-1518). He died between 1555 and 1557. His best-known work is Crisfal.
José Duro
(Portalegre, 1875 – Lisbon, 1899) — Decadent poet.
José Francisco
Trindade Coelho (Mogadouro, 1861 – Lisbon, 1908) — Writer, journalist,
magistrate and politician. He was a delegate of the Royal Prosecutor in
Portalegre, where he founded two newspapers — O Comércio de Portalegre and
Gazeta de Portalegre.
José Frederico
Laranjo (Castelo de Vide, 1846 – Lisbon, 1910) — Jurist, economist, university
professor and politician. He was director of the newspaper O Distrito de
Portalegre.
Benvindo Ceia
(Portalegre, 1870 – Lisbon, 1941) — Painter of decorative painting.
José Régio (Vila do
Conde, 1901 – Vila do Conde, 1969) — Professor, poet, novelist, playwright,
essayist and critic, founder of Presença magazine, and contributor to Seara
Nova. From his own name, José Maria dos Reis Pereira, he was a Portuguese
teacher at the then Liceu Nacional de Portalegre (currently Escola Secundária
Mouzinho da Silveira) from 1928 to 1967. One of his most famous poems is Toada
de Portalegre. His house currently houses the José Régio House Museum, where,
in addition to furniture and personal objects, his extensive collections of
antiques, art, and popular crafts are on display.
João Luís Carrilho da
Graça (Portalegre, 1952) — internationally renowned award-winning architect.
Artur Ramadas (Portalegre,
1935) — Director.
Carlos Garcia de
Castro (1934–2016) — Teacher and poet
Júlio Miranda Calha (1947–2020) — Professor, deputy, president of the Municipal Assembly of Portalegre, Secretary of State
Political
Local Elections
Legislative Elections
Portalegre District
Municipalities
The district is composed of 15 municipalities:
- Alter do Chão
- Arronches
- Avis
- Campo Maior
- Castelo de Vide
- Crato
- Elvas
- Fronteira
- Gavião
- Marvão
- Monforte
- Nisa
- Ponte de Sor
- Portalegre
- Sousel
The Part of the
"Story" Set in Portalegre
We arrived in
Portugal on the 24th of February 2022. First, we had to deal with
our situations with our phones (SIM Cards), sadly we didn’t have that much time
to catch the bus from the airport. Lisboa was warm at that moment, and
everything was going as it was planned. We couldn’t find any SIM cards at the
airport, so we had to catch the subway and then go to the bus station. We found
a LycaMobile mobilize center in the subway and thought it was a good idea to
get the SIM card from the subway station, but it turned out it wasn’t. I mean
it was cheap and we had to get it as fast as possible. We had arrived at the
bus stop, and after getting on the fast bus, our journey to Portalegre began.
Naturally, we felt a bit strange because all the dynamics seemed different from
Turkey according to our first impression. We arrived in Portalegre around 9 pm,
we actually felt like we lived 27 hours in a day since there was a 3 hour
difference between Turkey and Portugal. We were quite tired... we quickly
settled into the house and went out within the same day. There were no open
restaurants and this situation really seemed strange to us, there were
restaurants where you can find 24/7 open food and street food outlets in
Turkey. In short, on our first night,
we had to sleep without eating much.
Between of Portalegre and Elvas Area;
Delta Café’s Company
Delta
Cafè company, as a global brand from Portugal the world, has a large factory in
Campo Maior, located between two beautiful Portuguese towns, Elvas and
Portalegre. When you enter this factory, a security guard greets you with a
smiling face and guides you to where you need to go. After that, the friendly
and knowledgeable staff will help you tell you about the history of the factory
and Delta Cafè. Of course, if you wish, you can tour the entire factory with
the guest card they will give you. We are not talking about being among
machines and various workers; moreover, an atmosphere where developing
technology and history are used together has been created and presented to the
taste of the visitors.
Delta Cafe is a coffee chain company founded
in 1961. Since then, it has developed itself and has a vision that continues to
evolve. We would like to emphasize that it is a company that values history
like well. Why? This company makes you feel the processes from the first spread
of coffee to the present day, both with the materials they make and with all
the objects they use. So much so that during our visit, we witnessed many
cultural elements and various 60-70 years old coffee machines almost produced
by technology. The wide variety of coffee brewing tools, from manual to
automatic, is worth a look. You can make your visit enjoyable with various
applications containing the information they offer during your's visit, and you
can get information in many languages. At the end of your visit, you can buy
various gifts for yourself and your loved ones.
Do not forget to drink your coffee made with freshly ground coffee beans here. I think you will love their delicious coffee prepared by expert baristas. So much so that the coffee culture is widespread in Portugal. If you plan to stay here for a long time, I’m sure you will get used to this culture.
An Overview of the Human Species
About
8 billion people live on Earth. Every person has culture, language, religion,
race, and various characteristics. The most important thing that makes a human
is to be able to think and feel. However, people transform into different forms
according to the events they experience. This evolution leads to
differentiation in individuals, leading to differentiation. Portalegre is
generally a quiet, calm, and small town. It's known that the general population
of the individuals living in this city consists of the elderly. Local people
generally prefer to spend an old part of their lives here; they emphasize that
everyone bored of crowded cities rests here by taking advantage of the
serenity. The air of Portalegre, a city intertwined with nature, is cleaner and
more spacious than in other big cities. With the warming of the weather and the
increasing temperature, people find a place for themselves in parks and various
green areas, relax and have a pleasant time. Although it is a small city,
people can easily find what they want here because the possibilities are not
limited. This is another advantage of the city. The calmness of the city is
reflected in the souls of people because people are at least as calm as the
city. In fact, our opinion is that you are the same no matter what climate you
are in, just like dietitians say, 'Whatever you eat, you turn into it'. On the
other hand, the climate and the diversity of the people make Portalegre
attractive, beautiful. Also, as we said before, Portalegre is a nice place to
relax. It is a good way for people to cool off and feel good in Portalegre,
which has very high temperatures in summer and has windy and cool places even
though the weather is overwhelming due to its geographical location. In
addition, the helpfulness, friendliness, and respect for every opinion, belief,
and individual of the people of Portalegre can be presented as a good reason to
stay here. Although we have language problems from time to time, we can easily
communicate with people through body language or various translation tools in
this cute city where there are very few judgmental and problematic people.
Also, since I come from the Mediterranean, similar aspects of people and
climate are often seen here.
First
of all, I would like to say that Portalegre is a small but cozy city. While
this city has fewer inhabitants than other cities, students make up about 30%
of the population. Therefore, it is possible to see students in many places or
on the street. In addition, Praça de Republica street/square, which is the
daily haunt of students at the school, is the most well-known place. As the
weather warms up, it is possible to see 100-200 students a day in this region.
Even in winter, there is an area where students can comfortably spend time
outdoors. Although Portalegre has a smaller population than other cities, it is
a good population in terms of students and education. Due to its proximity to
Spain, it plays an important role in allowing students to travel easily and see
various countries. Of course, transportation from Portalegre to other cities is
possible by bus or train. If you want to choose a different means of
transportation, you can get help from the websites created for transportation.
Perhaps you have discovered a more convenient way to travel. Portalegre, a city
that bears and reflects the traces of the past in terms of its historical
texture, is located in a high residential area. This shows us that it is cooler
in hot weather than in other cities. We can say that each season is several
degrees lower than in other cities. As we have already said, due to its
proximity to Spain, it is possible to change countries in a short time. It is
also worth noting that it is cheaper than Lisbon and Porto. When renting
accommodation in Portalegre, almost everything has the same pricing throughout
the country. Things are more relaxed. Portalegre, a city where mostly elderly
people live, probably takes its quiet and calm character from here. The city is
quieter and calmer than other cities, as the elderly live in it. It has been
determined that the number of tourists is low due to the fact that there are
few places to be seen in terms of tourism. Portugal has the Dec of being the
most livable country for us among European countries due to its location in a
region dominated by almost all kinds of climates. Therefore, we would like to
note that this is a place and region where people from different climates can
easily adapt. There are many places to visit when you come here. These are
usually museums and ruins. We also strongly recommend that you visit Delta
Cafe's factory. Because you will often see shops with the Delta Cafe logo both
in Portugal and in Portalegre. If this makes you curious, you should follow
your curiosity. We recommend that you consume delicious coffee, as well as
fresh and attractive calico products together. As an example, you should try a
crispy and flowing creamy dessert called Pastel de Nata. On the other hand,
even if the nightlife varies according to the person, you can easily sit with
your friends wherever you want, and enjoy your drink/meal with pleasure. It is
also not difficult to find a loving and sincere person in this geography, where
people respect each other. We can state that it is a region open to different
cultures with an understanding of entertainment. We can talk about serious
security related to the city. No matter what time of the night or day it is,
you can easily walk around the streets and alleys. No one can pressure you or
bully you in various ways unless there is a flood. As for what kind of place it
will be in the field of education, we can briefly convey it as follows.
Education in Portalegre is also recognized as an institution of serious
importance. While there are a large number of well-trained instructors, the
instructors are also friendly and helpful to the students as a personality.
Here it is possible to get an education where there are instructors focused on
solving the problem in all subjects and where you can improve yourself. It is
possible to get to the school building on foot from your home or place of stay,
but the price of public transport is also affordable. You can use public
transport in rainy weather or in extreme heat. The cost of public transport is
only 1.50 €. It is said by some students that it is more convenient than in
other European cities. It is possible to reach each place in a short time on
foot no more than 4-5 km per day. I think the most disadvantageous aspect of
the city is the road structure. The road structure is bumpy, so we can say that
it is a little tiring. Since the city is intertwined with nature, it is very
normal for you to start the day with bird chirps and various animal sounds. And
the church bell, which rings several times a day, sounds like a small echo of
the silence of the city. in the city, which has around 6-7 large grocery
stores, you can easily reach many foods and drinks. In addition, you can have
lunch or dinner at restaurants at a low price. The public consumes products in
a way that is satisfied with the pricing and is satisfied with it. There are
supermarkets within the reach of almost everyone, and people can consume the
products they buy from supermarkets in parks and on the street if they want. On
the other hand, a picnic will be a pleasant activity in Portalegre, which has a
green area and a forest. As the weather warms up, the number of people you see
on the street or in places is increasing. You will likely see people playing
games and cooling down with cold and fresh drinks in parks and shady areas. Family
structure and inbreeding are relatively high in Portalegre. Since the
population of individuals born from inbreeding is large, almost everyone has
the same last name. We can say that many people have the same ancestry.
What did
we expect, and what did we see?
While Ata states that most of his expectations about this
city have not been met structurally, Emirhan states that he has recently
adapted to the city and is happy here. Ata's thinking is different, and he
thinks that he can find more opportunities here, but the problem of not being
able to do this due to the low population delays his adaptation to the city.
Stating that he usually spends time at home, at school, or meeting with his
friends, the activities that Ata enjoys the most are expressed as school trips.
Coming from a big city of 3 million to a small city with a population of 23
thousand was a different experience for both Ata and Emirhan. While this
experience taught them to adapt to the quiet life here, they say they are
thinking about how they will adapt to the crowd when they return home.
Portalegre's clean air, silence, calmness, and being in touch with nature are expressed as a factor that contributes to the beautiful memories they have accumulated here. On the other hand, the transportation network of Portalegre within walking distance to everywhere was also determined as a good phenomenon for them. Expressing that they are used to rough roads, the young people also emphasize that Portalegre is generally suitable for people to live and work comfortably. Emirhan stated that his favorite activity is to connect to the outdoor wi-fi network in the park located in the center of Portalegre and spend time in the park while noting that it is a very useful and correct attitude for the state to provide people with free internet service. Ata also has the same thoughts about this, but she says that she is satisfied with the speed and quality of the Internet. Stating that it is almost impossible to stay without the Internet in Portalegre, young people also touch on the importance of the Internet in today's communication. For this reason, the public and free internet access points used on Portalegre may be referred to as useful for you. Due to the wide nature view and green areas of Portalegre, we recommend that individuals with pollen allergies carry products such as supplements in the spring.
He states that Emirhan's allergy to spring pollen puts him in a difficult process in the first few hours of the day when he wakes up every morning. Due to the abundance of green areas and the scarcity of buildings, it is a good opportunity to serve in pharmacies almost every day in certain parts of the world, while it is inevitable that pollen flying freely in the open air will cause allergic reactions in individuals. city and to find medicine easily. The situation we are talking about is not due to the disadvantage of the city, but because people living in Jul areas do not benefit much from clean and fresh air. In such a way, the speed of buildings and concreting is high, as more living space, housing, or a place to stay are needed in rapidly growing populated areas.
Expressing that he has clearly experienced the word Jul,
which is called the balance of nature, Emirhan said that he does not complain
about fresh air and pollen, but this has a negative impact on his daily life. Portalegre
is described as a truly livable city through the eyes of two students coming
from outside Europe and meeting a different culture. They state that the
disadvantage of the city is the small population and the lack of sufficient
stores. So, they say it's a place everyone goes to at least twice a week. When
this situation turns into a habit in individuals after a while, the individual
may become dull because he is only interested in the same type of activities in
his environment. In addition, they find the academic nights and ceremonies
organized by IPP students every week useful in terms of socialization and
because they are traditional. We would like to point out that doing some
research before coming to Portalegre will be beneficial for our future guests
or students who will study here.
Why? Because although Portalegre is a place where everyone can live comfortably, it is not a city that can meet everyone's wishes due to its character structure that changes from person to person. While some like fun, crowded and lively cities, others may like the opposite, quieter and quieter places. In this case, we would like to repeat that it is a beautiful city where those who like calm and quiet places can both work and study. So much so that it takes no more than an hour to walk from home to work in the city, but you can reach close distances in 5-10 minutes. We reach school from our home in 15-20 minutes every day. In this period, we meet our daily walking needs and save on transportation costs. Even if the city is small, there are many places to socialize in it. One of them is a movie theater. The cinema hall is located in Praça de Republica and is very close to the school.
In today's world, where the cinema sector is no longer
receiving much attention with developing technology, if you want to go to the
cinema and experience this atmosphere, it will come across as a good option.
And finally, we would like to remind you again that a person who wants to live
has a reason everywhere. As we have already mentioned, the perception of living
that varies from person to person leads to where and how people will live. For
this reason, we recommend that an individual make his own, own decision and
move forward with this decision, considering such events as the demographic
structure, population, and geographical location of Portalegre. As two Turkish
students from Turkey, we loved this place and got used to it. We wish that the
students or people who will come after us will also like this place.
Ata Ahmet Kökçü & Emirhan Enşan
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