ALCOCHETE the Town of Alcochete Is Locate4d on the South Bank of The
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Mosteiro de Jerónimos - Solares de Portugal - Lisboa - (20 de Janeiro de 2000) ALCOCHETE The town of Alcochete is locate4d on the South bank of the Tejo near the Nature Park of the Tejo estuary. Its proximity to the river gives it its salt pans. And its proximity to Ribatejo gives it its "campinos" (cowboys) and "forcados" (bull wrestlers). There are the traditional bull fights and running of the bulls on feast days in Summer, particularly the Barrete Verde feast and the Salinas feast. Pedestrians in the streets have to run away from the bulls. The name "Alcochete" is derived from the Arabic word for "kiln" as there were many in that area. Its foundation probably dates back to the 7th and 9th centuries, after the Moors conquered Lisbon. Several Portuguese kings gave importance to Alcochete. King João I and King João II spent long periods here for rest and recreation. Prince Fernando (brother of King Afonso V) had his residence here, where the future King Manuel was born in 1469. In the 17th and 18th centuries the production of salt was developed as well as the firewood industry. The county was dissolved in 1895 and re-established 3 years later. Feasts ALCOCHETE Feast of São João Baptista (24 June) Feasts of Barrete Verde and the Salt Pans (2nd week of August) These feasts are celebrated in honour of the "forcado" (bull wrestler), the salt maker and the "campino" (cowboy). It occurs each year and lasts 4 days. There are bull fights as well as the running of the bulls. The traditional Sardine Roast is a highlight and occurs on Saturday night. The streets are lined with tables offering roast sardines, bread and wine. On the religious aspect there is a procession on land and sea, a statue of Our Lady arrives in town on a typical boat of the Tejo river. The pilgrimage of the Alcochete seamen (Easter) The pilgrimage of the Alcochete seamen is one of 6 that still occur in honour of Our Lady of Atalaia. It is the first one, the others occur on the last Sunday of August. According to local lore the feast dates back to the 15th century. It begins on the eve of Easter Sunday with the arrival of the drummers and bag pipes via boat. On Easter Sunday they go around town inviting women and young men to lunch. On Monday there is a procession and an auction of flags that are specially painted and embroidered for the occasion. Also the traditional sweets, called Fogaças are for sale. Afterwards they all return to Alcochete where there is a parade of young men riding donkeys through the streets. It usually falls on one man to be the host for lunch and dinner for those making the flags and fogaças. In the past this role fell to the seamen with bachelor sons and marriageable women would attend chaperoned by their mothers. Solares de Portugal TURIHAB – Associação de Turismo de Habitação Praça da República – 4990-062 Ponte de Lima – PORTUGAL Tel. +351 258741672 / 258742827 Fax. +351 258931320 / 258741444; Email: [email protected] ; www.solaresdeportugal.pt / www.europetraditions.com Mosteiro de Jerónimos - Solares de Portugal - Lisboa - (20 de Janeiro de 2000) Bullfights and the running of the bulls (several times during the year) - Alcochete, Rosário, Moita The running of the bulls usually occurs during the Summer feast days in various locations on the South bank of the Tejo river. Every year, the streets of Alcochete, Rosário and Moita fill with visitors willing to face the bulls. To escape being gored they will climb lamp posts, jump through windows, do anything to save themselves. In Rosário, the bull will sometimes chase the people into the river. Feasts of the Confraternização Camponesa (2nd weekend of June) - S. Francisco Popular Feasts of Nossa Senhora do Carmo (3rd week of July) - Samouco Feast of Rosário (1st two weeks of August) - Rosário Sports Sailing, Windsurfing - Beach of Moinhos Pole fishing Mini-cruises on the Tejo river aboard the frigate "Alcatejo" Horseback riding - Fonte da Senhora / Atalaia (Complexo Hípico-Desportivo) ALCOCHETE Historic Centre (parallel small lanes) Parish Church It is a notable Gothic-Manueline church dedicated to St. John the Baptist. It is classified as a National Monument. There is an interesting rose window in the façade, an entrance and Manueline tower. There are interesting 1700s tile panels on the inside. In one of the outbuildings there are two early 16th century paintings brought here from the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição dos Matos. Church of Misericórdia It was founded in mid 16th century and was part of the Palace where King Manuel I was born. Today it houses the Museum of Sacred Art. It has an interesting 1582 - 83 altarpiece and a Flag of Sisterhood, the oldest known in Portugal. Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Vida (founded in 1577; lovely buildings; 18th century tiles and wood carvings) Praça de Touros (bullfight ring) Solares de Portugal TURIHAB – Associação de Turismo de Habitação Praça da República – 4990-062 Ponte de Lima – PORTUGAL Tel. +351 258741672 / 258742827 Fax. +351 258931320 / 258741444; Email: [email protected] ; www.solaresdeportugal.pt / www.europetraditions.com Mosteiro de Jerónimos - Solares de Portugal - Lisboa - (20 de Janeiro de 2000) Aposento do Barrete Verde (Club House for the group Barrete Verde and museum centre for bullfighting) Information Centre and observatory of the Nature Park of the Tejo estuary Municipal Museum (archaeology, history and ethnography) Outskirts Salt pans of Alcochete Museum Centre of salt - Estrada Municipal 501 Nature Park of the Tejo estuary (access via a dirt road) Old Estate of Jácome Ratton (typical estate of Ribatejo with horses and bulls; the Chapel of Santo António da Ussa is located here, it is circular and Romanesque; lakes) - Baroque de Alva River beach of Moinhos (on the bank of the Tejo river; water sports) Entrance to the Convent of São Francisco (16th century; lined in tiles; the only part that remains of a 1400s building) - São Francisco Village of Samouco (typical village on the South Bank) Boat graveyard (abandoned boats; impressive view of hulls seen at low tide) - Gaio Boatyards of the typical boats of the Tejo river - Gaio, Sarilhos Pequenos Master José Lopes is one of the last to repair and build the typical boats of the South bank of the Tejo river. In the Gaio boat yard, every day he spends his time painting the boats in garish colours and traditional motifs. The "Pombinha" and "Boa Viagem" boats were repaired and rebuilt here. Both belong to Moita City Hall and are used for trips on the Tejo river. Typical houses (garishly painted) - Rosário Tidal mills - Alhos Vedros ARCOS DE VALDEVEZ Arcos de Valdevez is a very old and idyllic town by the Vez river from which it derived its name. In 1140, the tournament of Valdevez was held here and pitted King Solares de Portugal TURIHAB – Associação de Turismo de Habitação Praça da República – 4990-062 Ponte de Lima – PORTUGAL Tel. +351 258741672 / 258742827 Fax. +351 258931320 / 258741444; Email: [email protected] ; www.solaresdeportugal.pt / www.europetraditions.com Mosteiro de Jerónimos - Solares de Portugal - Lisboa - (20 de Janeiro de 2000) Afonso Henriques against Afonso VII of Leon. Many tears were shed here, when during the War of Restoration, the Spanish General Pantoja burned the town to ashes. Arcos de Valdevez was reborn in the 17th century. It is the Municipal headquarters and has 51 parishes and 32,000 inhabitants. It is surrounded by green hills, where the grapes ripen in the sun. On its roads there are stately houses, towers, bridges and churches. Feasts ARCOS DE VALDEVEZ Fairs and Feasts (Arcos de Valdevez) Santa Maria do Castelo Festival (May) São João da Valeta Festival (24th July) County Festival (August) Fairs every fortnight (Wenesday) Sports Fishing: trout, sea bream and boce (from March to July) - Vez river Fishing: barbel and shad (from February to June) - Vez river Canoeing - Vez river ARCOS DE VALDEVEZ Pillory This 16th century pillory has a single column, entwined with serpents. It has a triangular stone on top with skeleton spheres and the Royal escutcheon. It is considered to be one of the most noteworthy pillories in Portugal. Parish Church (17th century; valuable altars of carved wood) Church of Espírito Santo (17th century; 17th and 18th century paintings and wood carvings) Lapa Church (18th century; Baroque, designed by André Soares) São Bento Church (17th century; valuable tiles and statues) Misericórdia Church (16th century; rebuilt in the 18th century) Solares de Portugal TURIHAB – Associação de Turismo de Habitação Praça da República – 4990-062 Ponte de Lima – PORTUGAL Tel. +351 258741672 / 258742827 Fax. +351 258931320 / 258741444; Email: [email protected] ; www.solaresdeportugal.pt / www.europetraditions.com Mosteiro de Jerónimos - Solares de Portugal - Lisboa - (20 de Janeiro de 2000) Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praça (14th century; Romanesque with Gothic entrance; oldest monument in town) Cross of Senhor dos Milagres (19th century) Bridge over the Vez river (19th century) Manor house of Requeijó (18th century; façade flanked by two turrets; Baroque and Neo- Classical; Rocaille chapel) Valeta neighbourhood (typical houses; by the river, has maintained its identity) Outskirts River beach of Valeta Monte do castelo (lookout point) - Vila Fonche House of Condessa (19th century; belonged to the Morgado de Casal Soeiro) - Vila Fonche Palace of Giela (14th - 16th century; King João I bequeathed it to Fernão Anes Lima in gratitude for his support given to the Grand Master of the Order of Avis; National Monument) - Ázere House of Torre