TURIVENTOS - Turismo e Eventos

Duration – 1 week 

11 - ESTREMOZ

Travel: Vila Viçosa »Estremoz: 26 kms

Travel time (expected): 30 minutes.

The City

Estremoz is a Portuguese city in the district of Evora, Alentejo region, Alentejo Central sub-region, with 8662 inhabitants.

It is the seat of a municipality with 513.8 km ² and 14,318 inhabitants (2011), subdivided into nine parishes. The municipality is bordered to the north by the municipalities of Sousel and Frontier, northeast of Monforte, southeast by Borba, south by Redondo and west by Évora and Arraiolos.

It is internationally known for its white marble quarries, called Marble Estremoz. Operation of Estremoz marble has a very ancient origin, as evidenced by the Roman Temple of Évora, which contains marble originating in Estremoz. Is located on the main altar of the Cathedral of Évora.

The Estremoz was awarded the distinction of "Outstanding Villa" issued by the Kings of Portugal to many of their villages; was elevated to city status in 1926.

In 1336, Queen Isabel, then aged 65, went to Estremoz from the Franciscan convent in Coimbra where he was taken after the death of D. Dinis, her husband, in order to avoid a war between his son Afonso IV and the king of Castile Alfonso XI. Afonso IV declared war on Alfonso XI by the mistreatment inflicted this to his wife Maria (daughter of the Portuguese king). The Queen Isabel stood between the two estranged armies, and again avoided the war as had happened in 1323 at the Battle of Alvalade, between the troops of King Dinis and Afonso IV.

Estremoz was the king's death place D. Pedro I, in 1367, in the Franciscan convent.

In the 1383-1385 crisis, was one of the cities that revolted in Alentejo in favor of John of Aviz, shortly after the assassination of Count Andeiro in Lisbon. It was near Estremoz that occurred the first battle between the Portuguese and Spaniards at the time, the battle of Atoleiros wins for the first under the Nuno Alvares Pereira command.

In 1659, it was in Estremoz that the Portuguese army met the orders of D. António Luís de Meneses, Count of Cantanhede, to help Elvas, which was surrounded by a Spanish army, commanded by Don Luis de Haro. From there out to defeat the Spanish in the Battle of Elvas lines and caused huge casualties to their opponents.

In 1663 the Spanish army, commanded by King John of Austria and the Portuguese army, commanded by the Counts of Vila Flor and Schomberg clashed in the fields of Ameixial 5 km from Estremoz. The Spanish army had just won Évora. Consisted of 3,000 knights and 2,000 men on foot, and this is one of the most dangerous Spanish attacks during the War of Restoration. After the battle, the Spanish army withdrew to Badajoz.

In February 1821, Mouzinho da Silveira was in charge of Finance of the collection of diligence in Estremoz.

Estremoz also has the oldest brass band in the country in continuous activity, the Philharmonic Society Luzitana (Royal Philharmonic Luzitana).

Castelo de Evora-Monte (Castle Évora Monte)

Castle Évora Monte, also referred to as Evoramonte Castle, is located in the town of Evora Monte, Estremoz, Évora District, Alentejo, Portugal.

Erected in one of the highest points of the Ossa mountain range, in the village center, the top of its walls is dominated a large area around until the Estremoz Castle.

Background

It is believed that the early human occupation of this site dates back to prehistory.

The medieval castle.

At the time of the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, the town was conquered from the Moors by the Portuguese forces commanded by the legendary Geraldo Fearless, around 1160, at which time the castle it started.

Its defenses were recovered by determination of D. Afonso III (1248-1279), sovereign who granted him the first charter (1248), renovated in 1271. These attempts at settlement, however, does not appear to have been successful, since his successor, King Dinis (1279-1325), ordered the fortification of the village (1306), it has gotten around in and the doors.

With the rise of John, Master of Avis to the throne, the Castle of Évora Monte and his dominions passed into the possession of the Constable D. Nuno Alvares Pereira, but eventually integrating the areas of the House of Braganza.

In the early modern period, Manuel I of Portugal (1495-1521) granted Foral New to the village (1516), starting her new constructive stage. Getting the old castle donjon destroyed by the earthquake of 1531, the following year, under the direction of Captain-General, D. Theodosius of Bragança, is rebuilt as a palace of Italian Renaissance-inspired, with risk attributed to Diogo architects and Francisco de Arruda.

19th century to the present day

The town and its castle lost strategic importance over the centuries. Here was signed the Convention of Évora Monte (26 May 1834) closing the Liberal Wars. Finally, on 24 October 1855 its county was definitely extinct, and your old term shared by the neighboring municipalities of Estremoz, Évora, Arraiolos and Redondo.

The castle and around the town were considered as a National Monument by Decree published on 23 June 1910. The consolidation and restoration work began on the end of the 1930s continuing in 1940. New campaigns interventions followed one of 1971 to 1987, giving the monument its current appearance.

The castle, stone masonry and granite stonework has square plan, with circular towers at the corners, mixing elements of the Gothic style with the Renaissance style of Italian inspiration. Internally divided into three floors, with vaulted ceilings, based on stone pillars. In wider in turrets base than at the top, ripping visors. Cloths are adorned with Us carved in stone, typical of the Manueline style.

Capela de D. Fradique de Portugal (Chapel of D. Fradique de Portugal)

Situated within the Church of San Francisco and likely foundation of the late 15th century or early 16th century, the Chapel of D. Fradique de Portugal (Viceroy of Catalonia and Archbishop of Zaragoza), is a manufactory clearly funerary monument, according Gonçalo Lopes.

Convento dos Congregados (Convent Congregados)

The Convent of Our Lady of Conception Congregados the Oratory of St. Philip Nery Estremoz had royal order of D. Pedro II (r 1675 -. 1706) to be built in 1697. Between 1698 and 1700 begin the works and in 1703 begins its second season, already begun with the church. In the middle of this century are seated the tile panels that are all over the convent. The church was never finished until 1961, the year he began to contract for the rest of the facade construction, completed in 1967. In 1974 they shut the dome of the main chapel. After a few years without work, the church, property of the City Council was transferred to St. Andrew Parish and this ushered in the full church in 1995, almost three centuries after it was started. The facade of the church, rare and erudite element, brought something new to the "monotony" of architecture Alentejo: the main elevation "undulating". Under Italian architectural aesthetics seventeenth connected to Francesco Borromini (n 1599 -.. 1667 m), this dynamic effect appears as opposed to classic Renaissance and Mannerist vein, more static and stable.

Casa do Alcaide-Mor  (House of Alcaide-Mor)

1. Sancho de Noronha orders to build this noble house to his private residence around 1450, valuing the medieval village with the most interesting facade of civil architecture in the upper part of Estremoz. This reveals a remarkable hybrid of uniqueness, showing various styles from Mudéjar (15th century and early 16th century, coexisting with the Gothic Final and the Manueline), the Renaissance, the Manueline or Neoclassical.

Claustro do Convento das Maltezas (Convent of the cloister of Maltezas)

The Convent of St. John of Penance, best known for Convent of Maltezas, was the seat of cloistered nuns of the Order of Malta from the century. 16. Your Cloister is the largest of all the convents of the city and shows us the Manueline architecture. Each wing has ten arches, subdivided into four terraced arches and two simple, all sigladas by teachers who provided beds and fashioned stones that constitute them. The stems (central part of the columns) are supported on square bases, whose capitals are presented indifferently simple and plain or with naturalistic motifs. The corbels Dome in warhead, with typically Manueline motifs and anthropomorphic and zoomorphic motifs, are very curious and artistically interesting.

Capela da Rainha Santa Isabel (Chapel of Queen Isabel)

The panels in tiles and oil paintings are representative of life and legendary imagery of Santa Isabel Queen, including the miracles attributed to him, which were the cause of his canonization in 1625 by Pope Urban VIII. The lush chorus built in white marble displays a Latin inscription, 1808, to thank the people of Estremoz to St. Elizabeth to have her protected from looting resulting from the Napoleonic wars.

Conjunto Monumental da Alcáçova de Estremoz - Castelo (Monumental set the Alcazaba de Estremoz – Castle)

In the center of the medieval village comes to Keep, one of the best preserved of the country. With about 27 meters high, has square plan and is crowned with merlons in pyramidal shape. Typical of the Portuguese military architecture of the late 13th century and early 14th century, is what remains of the primitive fortress, along with the trecentista building of City Hall. On the second floor there is a beautiful octagonal room with columns and capitals of animalistic anthropomorphic reasons.

On the terrace are the so-called Three Crowns, representing, according to some authors, the three kingdoms which took place in the works of their deployment.

Pousada de Vila Viçosa, D. João IV

In the main face on the outside, the South depicts the arms of King Afonso III (r. 1245-1279) with two angels to protect them.

Currently occupied by the Pousada da Rainha Santa Isabel, the former Royal Palace was adapted medieval war warehouse in the reign of King John V (r. 1707-1750) in 1736, coming from Carlos Andreis technical assistance of works. It is one of the best examples of Baroque Joanine in Estremoz, with pentagonal plan and flanked by round towers. Of note: the trapezoidal courtyard with a central fountain with a fountain marble dolphins; the access staircase Arms room with two types of tile panels, one in blue and white stripes with baroque and naturalistic motifs, inspired by oriental tapestry, and other ashlars floral motifs, Johannine the mid 18th century; Arms Room, where there are still some gilt and polychrome doors with real shells.

In the old royal convent of the Chagas de Cristo (Christ’s Wounds)

The Pousada de Vila Viçosa, opened in 1996, is installed in the historical centre of this Alentejo city.

The Pousada is found in the old Convento Real das Chagas de Cristo (The Royal Convent of Stigmas of Christ) ordered built by D. Jaime, the forth Duke of Bragança in the sixteenth century.

1. Jaime ordered the building of this religious house to serve as Pantheon for the Ladies of the House and to welcome his daughters from his second marriage who could not decently marry.

Through the years some legends became associated with the Pousada.

Ever since the mythical presence of the last mother superior, who still watches over by the convent, the attempt to build a direct passage to the Paço Ducal, which lies next to the Pousada.

It is believed that the frescoes of the building were written by Cecilia of the Holy Spirit, poet and painter, who worked in the convent until the date of her death in 1723.

Staying at the Pousada de Vila Viçosa is a trip to the furthest reaches of fantasies, we guarantee extraordinary experiences.

With its themed rooms, staying in this hotel is like sleeping in a museum, where for a moment we are actors in this imaginary world.

From the " Teacher's Room ", that was once a rite of passage of prosperity, the old drawing room, one of the only areas in the convent where men could be present, up to the Duchess’s suite.

Be sure to check the other rooms; spaces of comfort, harmony and modernity.

The Pousada de Vila Viçosa is a genuine lure for those who appreciate the best of Portuguese cuisine. 

The fine cuisine and convent recipes will mark the experience of any who choose to eat at the Pousada’s restaurant.

The D. Carlos Restaurant also offers the best wines of the region (Borba, Estremoz, Redondo, Reguengos and Évora).

In the bar ""Sabores da Terra"" (Flavours of the Earth) you will find the perfect place to snack and relax, enjoying all that the Alentejo cuisine and traditions have to offer.

Torre de Menagem  (Watchtower)

In the center of the medieval village comes to Keep, one of the best preserved of the country. With about 27 meters high, has square plan and is crowned with merlons in pyramidal shape. Typical of the Portuguese military architecture of the late 13th century and early 14th century, is what remains of the primitive fortress, along with the trecentista building of City Hall. On the second floor there is a beautiful octagonal room with columns and capitals of animalistic anthropomorphic reasons.

Torres da Couraça (Towers of harness)

In Estremoz, the armor would be an integral part of the medieval wall, possibly coeval of the Keep. All walled structure that connected the towers to the fence was destroyed in the late 17th century.

Ermida da Nossa Senhora dos Mártires (Chapel of Our Lady of Martyrs)

Our Lady of Martyrs is the few chapels of Estremoz Municipality with medieval features.

Artistically, there are several elements to report, with its typically Gothic apse the most recognized. However, inside, there are two important architectural monuments: the Manueline (patent on the arc shot that supports the choir, with pendants decoration balls and socks, with plaited columns, all marble) and the Rococo Home (blue tile panels on white background with episodes of Life of the Virgin and Christ).

Igreja S. Francisco (Church of San Francisco)

The interior has a rectangular plan, three naves and five spans. The Gothic verticality provides proof of its medieval foundation, and the decorative elements of this time are of naturalistic feature, zoomorphic and anthropomorphic. The Baroque period is the Tree of Jesse, the reign of King John IV (r. 1640-1656). Was paid by the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Rosary in 1652. This rare altarpiece in gilt corresponds to one of three beautiful examples that still exist in Portugal.

Villa Romana de Santa Vitória do Ameixial

The Roman villa of Santa Vitória do Ameixial have been built in the context of Romanization of the Iberian Peninsula, being inserted in the province of Lusitania, whose capital was situated in Merida (Emerita Augusta).

The villa will have had a first occupation in the century. 1, as documented by the appearance of a Nero and ceramic chip dated this period. However, the most significant occupation in terms of material remains, it is the Lower-Empire (late 3rd century / early 4th century).

The area corresponding to the pars urban villa (plant owners) stretched along the entire elevation down to the West and lying largely under the settlement. This area consists of rooms and corridors paved the mosaic, arranged around a tank, the rock for rainwater harvesting. We also found areas of kitchen and food storage, as well as examples of tanks and a complex network of sanitation and water circulation

Bacalhoa Vinhos de Portugal (Bacalhôa Wines of Portugal)

Founded in 1922 under the name Joan Smith & Sons, has come a long way, asserting itself as one of the most innovative wine producers in Portugal.

The activity of the company began as the production of wines with grapes from Palmela region. During the 80s, the Bacalhôa Wines of Portugal created a new dynamism, through a strong focus on the most modern techniques of viticulture and enology, creating new paradigms in the national panorama of the production of quality wines.

In 1998, José Berardo became the major shareholder and continued the mission of the company, including investing in planting new vineyards in the modernization of wineries and acquiring new properties as well as through partnership started with Lafitte Rothschild on Fifth do Carmo.

The company acquired the Quinta do Carmo and the Lafitte Rothschild Group got some actions Bacalhôa group Wines of Portugal.

In 2007 Bacalhôa became the largest shareholder in the Alliance, one of the most prestigious producers of high-quality sparkling wines, spirits such as table wines of Portugal.

Bacalhôa Portugal Wines has wineries in the most important regions of Portugal: Douro, Dao, Bairrada, Setúbal Peninsula (Azeitão), Lisbon and Alentejo.

The rich heritage of the company stands out from the Palace and Quinta da Bacalhôa - important national monument of the Renaissance - the Solar and Quinta dos Loridos, where Europe's largest Oriental Garden and the outstanding collection of tiles.

The project implemented in various estates under the theme "Art, Wine, Passion" aims to surprise the most demanding expectations. The vineyards to the wine, all the wine process is involved in various scenarios including tradition and modernity, with several art exhibitions, from painting to sculpture, never forgetting the magnificent natural works, as are ancient olive trees transplanted Alqueva.

With a total capacity of 20 million liters, 15,000 oak barrels and an area of vineyards in production of about 1000 hectares, Bacalhôa Portugal wines continues its commitment to innovation in the sector, with a view to creating wines that provide to all its unique experiences and surprising consumers with a high quality and consistency.

Gastronomy

ESTREMOZ

The regional cuisine, created from a reduced variety of ingredients and simple process, found the wisdom of the people, is a treat for the senses.

Predominate meat pork and lamb, traditional soups spicy wheat bread with herbs (which grow naturally in the fields), sheep milk cheese and sausages.

The monastic tradition offers sweets made on the basis of egg yolks, almonds and gila.

Holder of a unique cultural heritage and a number of hotel units, accessible to different "bags", Estremoz attracts more and more visitors.

 (Cozido de grao a alentejaa - Grain cooked to Alentejo)

Typical dishes

Soups:

Sopa de Caçao (Cation soup)

Sopa de hortela (Mint Soup)

Sopa da panela (Pot of soup)

Sopa de cebola (Onion soup)

Sopa de tomate (Tomato soup)

Sopa de espargo bravo (Asparagus soup brave)

Sopa de baldroegas (Purslane soup)

Açorda

Gazpacho

Sopa de batatas (Potato soup)

Fish:

Caçao de coentrada (Tion with coriander)

Poejada de bacalhau (Poejada cod)

Meat:

Ensopado de Borrego (Lamb stew)

Borrego assado no forno (Lamb roast)

Cozido de grao a alentejaa (Grain cooked to Alentejo)

Pézinhos de coentrada (Trotters with coriander)

Feijão branco com cabeça ou orelha de porco (White beans with pig's head or ear)

Burras assadas (baked Burras)

Cabeças de Borrego assadas (Roasted lamb heads)

Linguas estufadas (language steamed)

Cachola (nut)

Túbaros

Favas com Mouros (Broad beans with Moorish)

Game dishes:

Lebre estufada com Nabos (Hare stewed with turnips)

Guisado de javali (Boar stew)

Confectionery:

Sopa dourada (golden soup)

Pao de rala (Bread thin)

Encharcada (soaked)

Barrigas de freira ("Bellies of Nun")

"Toucinho da Madre Abadessa” (Bacon of the Mother Abbess)

Queijadas

Bolema 

WINE AND OLIVE OIL

ESTREMOZ

Bacalhoa Vinhos de Portugal, SA (Bacalhôa, Portugal Wines, SA)

Herdade das Carvalhas, 7100-040 Estremoz

1. (+351) 268 337 320
2. (+ 351) 268 337 321

Bacalhôa Wines of Portugal, founded in 1922, under the name Joan Smith & Sons, has come a long way, asserting itself as one of the most innovative wine producers in Portugal.

The activity of the company began as the production of wines with grapes from Palmela region. During the 80s, the Bacalhôa Wines of Portugal created a new dynamism, through a strong focus on the most modern techniques of viticulture and enology, creating new paradigms in the national panorama of the production of quality wines.

In 1998, José Berardo became the major shareholder and continued the mission of the company, including investing in planting new vineyards in the modernization of wineries and acquiring new properties as well as through partnership started with Lafitte Rothschild on Fifth do Carmo.

The company acquired the Quinta do Carmo and the Lafitte Rothschild Group got some actions Bacalhôa group Wines of Portugal.

In 2007 Bacalhôa became the largest shareholder in the Alliance, one of the most prestigious producers of high-quality sparkling wines, spirits such as table wines of Portugal.

Bacalhôa Portugal Wines has wineries in the most important regions of Portugal: Douro, Dao, Bairrada, Setúbal Peninsula (Azeitão), Lisbon and Alentejo.

The rich heritage of the company stands out from the Palace and Quinta da Bacalhôa - important national monument of the Renaissance - the Solar and Quinta dos Loridos, where Europe's largest Oriental Garden and the outstanding collection of tiles.

The project implemented in various estates under the theme "Art, Wine, Passion" aims to surprise the most demanding expectations. The vineyards to the wine, all the wine process is involved in various scenarios including tradition and modernity, with several art exhibitions, from painting to sculpture, never forgetting the magnificent natural works, as are ancient olive trees transplanted Alqueva.

With a total capacity of 20 million liters, 15,000 oak barrels and an area of vineyards in production of about 1000 hectares, Bacalhôa Portugal wines continues its commitment to innovation in the sector, with a view to creating wines that provide to all its unique experiences and surprising consumers with a high quality and consistency.

Adega do Monte Branco (Mont Blanc Cellar)

Apartado 21, 7100-145 Estremoz

1. (+351) 268 098 077
2. (+ 351) 268 098 078

Built in 2006, the Mont Blanc Winery is located in Estremoz and has capacity to produce 200,000 liters of wine.

 After 6 years of experience working in Quinta do Mouro with his Father, and you have finished their higher education, which also featured an accomplished stage in Sonoma County - California, in 2004 Luís Louro decides to push ahead with his personal project in wine production.

 This project, its mission, the production of wines in the Alentejo, mostly based on Portuguese grape varieties. This mission said the main pillars / values of the project: modernity, quality and price.

It is intended that these wines, produced from owned and leased vineyards grapes, are wines with a modern profile with an excellent quality / price ratio, which will meet the expectations of today's consumers, but at the same time have a distinct personality and character, as will the association to the site and the producer and thus make them so different from the competition.

Environment / Landscape:

The Mont Blanc Winery is located in Estremoz, Alentejo town where there is the highest concentration of wine producers with its own natural and climatic characteristics for the production of excellent Portuguese wines.

Special features of the vineyard:

The 25 came from the farm ha are planted in two soil types: granite and limestone.

The vines are conducted in bilateral cord and have a planting density of 3200 and 3700 trees per hectare.

The varieties used are: Aragonez, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, Merlot, Syrah in paint, and white Wardrobe, Arinto and Antão Vaz.

All wines in the cellar, are produced with grapes from only of owned and leased vineyards where Luís Louro assume technical responsibility for the entire process, from grape production to the production of wine.

J. Portugal Ramos Vinhos, SA (J. Portugal Ramos, SA Wines)

Vila Santa | 7100-149 Estremo

(+351) 268 339 91 (+ 351) 268 339 918

For over 20 years the name João Portugal Ramos is linked to Portuguese wines, first as consultant winemaker known brands of wine and, since 1992, as bottler producer. The success and awards accumulated throughout his career earned him national and international recognition as a major contributor to the evolution of Portuguese wines in the last decade.

The Alentejo was the region chosen to produce their first wines. In 1990, João Portugal Ramos planted the first five hectares of vineyards in Estremoz, where he lives since 1988, starting his personal project. Extended its activity beyond the Alentejo since 1989, reaching the Ribatejo, the borders and the Douro.

At this time the vineyard area totals 500 hectares in Alentejo.

The winery building in Estremoz, Vila Santa, began in 1997 and was expanded in 2000.

Environment / Landscape in which it operates:

It's legendary calm with in Alentejo like to enjoy every moment of life, and so we opened the door of the Villa Santa in Estremoz, so you can taste the wines of João Portugal Ramos with time and tranquility necessary, the good way Alentejo.

The pretext is to know the work of one of the most prestigious producers in the country and, by the way, also discover up the reasons for his passion for the Alentejo.

 Special features of vineyard or winery:

This Winery placed Estremoz on the route of the great wines, welcoming travelers from around the world. A walk or a lunch with friends, customers or employees are an excellent excuse and offer the time and tranquility ideal for here taste their wines and local cuisine. With store, tasting room, meeting room and dining room, a cellar Vila Santa opens the doors for you to discover, taste and take home wines that are the perfect memory of this land.

to be continued...

Post by: António Duro