몬테모르오노보‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪7‬개의 동굴

Place where the Peace Treaty of Alcáçovas was signed in 1479, between the kingdom of Portugal and the kingdom of Castile.

Arraiolos is a pleasant Alentejo town, whose foundation dates back to the second century BC. The mediaeval castle was built at the orders of D. Dinis (1279-1325), although the town soon spread beyond its walls. An important part of the town's artistic heritage is the sixteenth-century Salvador church, with some extremely beautiful paintings. The name of this town is well known internationally thanks to the famous Arraiolos carpets, which are produced here by the local craftsmen and women, having been referred to in documents as long ago as the sixteenth century. Some art historians have devoted themselves to studying and characterising this art, which has continued to grow in importance over the years. The types of pattern that are used can be divided into three distinct periods: the first period (in the eighteenth century) was based on compositions that betrayed the decorative influences of Persian carpets (these are considered to be amongst some of the finest examples); the second period (again in the eighteenth century) brought popularly inspired designs, such as figures or animals; and the third period (at the end of the eighteenth century and continuing into the nineteenth century) brought less dense and much more stylised patterns.

The Arraiolos Castle, or Paço dos Alcaides, is a 14th century castle located in Central Alentejo. Although it is not the largest castle in the region, it has a curious and almost unique peculiarity in the world, which makes it stand out in an area of the country with so many buildings of this type: its layout is circular architecture. For those who arrive in the town of Arraiolos (or pass through the surrounding region) it is impossible not to see the Arraiolos Castle, which stands proudly in the landscape, at the top of Monte de São Pedro. Historically, the Arraiolos Castle has had several roles. It was built in 1306 by D. Dinis, housing the population within its walls. Later it was the county seat of D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, 2nd Count of Arraiolos, who lived here for many years. Due to the cold and wind resulting from its location, it ended up losing many of its inhabitants. In an attempt to keep some of the population inside the walls, they began to be closed every night after the bell rang, which continued for several decades. However, the population eventually spread out along the surrounding slopes and three centuries after it was built, the Castle began to be looted for materials, eventually falling into ruins. It was during the reign of King John IV that it underwent major renovation work, but it eventually fell into ruins again, worsened by the earthquake of 1755. Between 1959 and 1963, it was partially restored by the State, achieving the appearance it still has today.

Montemor-o-Novo Castle is located in the parish of Nossa Senhora da Vila, in the municipality of Montemor-o-Novo, in the district of Évora, in Alentejo, Portugal. In a dominant position on the highest hill in the region, the castle originally sheltered the village within its walls, which, as it developed, expanded along the slope to the north. Historical documents confirm that Vasco da Gama finalized his plans for his voyage to India in this castle. Background The earliest human occupation of this site possibly dates back to a prehistoric Romanized fort, according to the abundant archaeological evidence in the region. This was where the Roman roads from Santarém and the mouth of the River Tagus met, continuing via Évora to Mérida. The site would have been fortified for this reason. Centuries later, during the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, the name Almançor remained in the region, in the toponymy of the Almansor river. Some authors claim that there was also a Muslim fortification here. The medieval castle During the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, the town was conquered by Portuguese forces under the command of D. Sancho I (1185-1211). With a view to repopulating and defending it, the sovereign granted it a Charter in 1203. It is believed that the construction of the medieval castle began at this stage. During the reign of D. Dinis (1279-1325), major reforms were undertaken to the town's defences, including the construction of the town's fence, which was completed in 1365. Once the Avis dynasty was established, the domain of Montemor-o-Novo became a third part of the lordship of Constable D. Nuno Álvares Pereira. Throughout the 15th century, the castle underwent renovation work, carried out by master stonemason Afonso Mendes de Oliveira. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the town reached its greatest prosperity, due not only to regional trade, but also to the fact that the Court remained for long periods in Évora, which made the town the scene of events such as the Cortes of 1495, when King Manuel I (1495-1521) decided to discover the sea route to India. This sovereign granted the town a new charter in 1503. Later, under the reign of King Sebastian (1557-1578), it was granted the title of Notable Town (1563), considering it to be an ancient place with a large population.

Symbol of Montemor-o-Novo

Paço dos Henriques (Henriques’s Palace), which is now owned by the Portuguese State and has been classified as a Building of Public Interest since 1993, belonged to the last lords of the town of Alcáçovas. According to tradition and local belief, this was once a royal palace, Ordered to be built by the Portuguese king Dom Dinis. This is a Place of Peace because it was there that took place the signature of the Alcáçovas-Toledo Treaty (also known as Alcáçovas’s Peace), that ended the Sucession War of Castile (1475-1479), where Afonso V of Portugal renounced the throne of Castile and King Fernando of Castile renounced the throne of Portugal. This Treaty also solved some issues related with the “new lands” discovered in the Atlantic Ocean, dividing them formally between Portugal and Castile. This explains the reason why this building is so important and emblematic, not only for Alcáçovas’ history, but for Portugal and the rest of the world.

The Clock Tower is currently the symbol of the city of Montemor-o-Novo. Built during the reign of King Dinis (13th – 14th centuries), it became the castle’s main defence tower. It underwent major renovations in the 16th century, when the Guard House was incorporated and a bell tower was installed to hold the clock bells. The clock had three bronze bells: one for the hours, another for the half-hours and the last for the quarter-hours. The main access door to the castle is located under the Clock Tower. It is called the town or Santarém gate. Classification: MN – National Monument, Decree no. 38 147, DG, 1st series, no. 4 of 5 January 1951 *1 / ZEP / “Non-built” zone, DG, 2nd series, no. 177 of 28 July 1962

Place where the Treaty of Alcaçovas was signed in 1479.