Portalegre
Portalegre was founded in the reign of Afonso III, in 1259. It was to be given to his bastard son Afonso Sanches.
In Denis I reign, by a foral of 18 November 1299, it was determined that Portalegre would be donated to the king himself and later to his first born and heir.
View of Portalegre from the distance. The church at the left is the cathedral of the city.
Portalegre was elevated to the status of city on 23 May 1550, by John III. At this time, the city was regarded as an important administrative and economic centre. In the 15th century, it was already recognized for its cloth manufacturing.
As it is near the frontier with Spain it always suffered lots of invasions from foreign troops: 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, this way trying to counter the French dominion. In 1847 it was occupied by forces of Spanish General Concha.
The importance of Portalegre would come to be recognized in 1859, when it became capital of the Portalegre District.
What to visit in Portalegre
Museu da Cortiça; Portalegre; Casa; Museu da Tapeçaria de Portalegre Guy Fino; Cortiça; Núcleo; Castelo de Portalegre; Castelo de Alegrete; Portas da antiga muralha (no passado existiam 7 portas (alguns estudiosos falam em 8), das quais só subsistem); Igreja do Bonfim; Sé Catedral (século XVI); Seminário de Portalegre (século XX), inaugurado em 1955; Igreja do Nosso Senhor do Bonfim (século XVIII); Convento de São Bernardo (século XVI), onde desde 2009 funciona a Escola Prática da Guarda Nacional Republicana; Convento de Santa Clara (século XIV), atualmente a Biblioteca Municipal de Portalegre; Convento jesuíta de São Sebastião (século XVII), Fábrica Real de Lanifícios a partir do século XVIII, sede da câmara municipal desde 2005; Capela do Calvário (século XVII ou XVIII); Capela de Sant’Ana (século XVIII); Igreja de São Lourenço.
No Distrito
Alter do Chão; Arronches; Avis; Campo Maior; Castelo de Vide; Crato; Elvas; Fronteira; Marvão; Monforte; Nisa; Ponte de Sôr; Sousel
Leave a comment
Related Unities
Monte do Freixo Poente
Monte do Freixo Poente is located in a traditional Alentejo hill in the center of an estate that has been in the family for several generations. It has been […]
Herdade do Sobroso Wine Luxury Hotel
The Herdade do Sobroso it is a Wine Luxury Hotel that transmits charm and escape. Breathe in the warm Alentejo aromas, together with others from Africa that are exotic with […]
Quinta da Comporta – wellness Boutique Resort
Bordered by lush paddy fields and abundant pine trees and adjancent to tranquil beaches of Carvalhal and Pego, the 73 luxury suites ans rooms of this eco-chic hotel are an […]
Herdade da Matinha Country House & Restaurant
Herdade da Matinha is located in the heart of the Natural Park of the Costa Vicentina, next to the village of Cercal do Alentejo, just 15 kilometers away from the […]
Monte da Lapa – Country House
Family owned estate in the countryside, with magnificent natural surroundings, just 1 hour drive from Lisbon airport, 5 minutes from Arraiolos and 25 minutes from Évora. Independently from the main […]
Monte do Giestal – Casas de Campo & SPA
“A guarded secret in the heart of Alentejo” Monte do Giestal has re-emerged to offer you, your family and friends moments of great pleasure and relaxation amidst green coloured fields, […]
Herdade do Reguenguinho
The Herdade do Reguenguinho born from the dream of creating something different: ‘A lot of senses.’ A house where there could be created spaces with elements that entertained the fantasy […]
Montargil Monte Novo
Montargil Monte Novo is located in Alentejo, in the village of Montargil, 95 km from Lisbon — a drive of about an hour and a half — on the bank […]
Salgadinho – Selão da Eira
SELÃO DA EIRA – Turismo Rural no Alentejo is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the gentle Monchique mountain range, mostly within the National Ecological Reserve. The atmosphere of tranquility […]
Casa do Governador
Casa do Governador is a centenary farm with approximately 30 hectares in an area of ecological reserve, just 2 km from the center of Évora and 500m from Convento do […]