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Portalegre History
During the Roman occupation Portalegre was known as �Amoea�. Its history links
the town with many military actions and the different armies have occupied it.
The Portuguese King Dom Dinis in his dynastic struggles with his brother in
1295-1297 spent over 5 months besieging the occupants before they surrendered.
In 1704 it suffered another shorter siege when the British troops under Stanhope
were taken prisoner. During the winter of the Peninsular War (1808-1814) against
the French it was again used as headquarters for the British troops assisting
the Portuguese.
Portalegre Description
It's located close to the border of Spain that has strong religious background
and this is evident by the number of churches and monasteries dating from the
13th Century. The oldest is probably the Igreja do Mosteiro de S�o Francisco
that dates from 1275, and later reconstructed in the 16th and 18th Centuries.
The ruined castle is of medieval origin. The town museum has on show a
collection of sacred art. The Casa de Poeta Jos� R�gio is a museum devoted to
the works of this 15th Century poet. Of particular interest is the fine 16th
Century windows to be seen on the outside of the home of Dom Nuno de Sousa.
About the same period the town developed commerce by creating an industry in
textiles, tapestries and silk cloths, and there are several remaining fine homes
to testify to its success. The Cathedral dates from the 16th Century and has
some additions from the 18th Century such as the Baroque fa�ade. Adjacent to the
cathedral is a small Municipal Museum that houses a very broad collection of
items. The Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Concei��o dates from c. 1518 and within
is the tomb of its founder Dom Jorge de Melo. The two chimneys that dominate the
town acts as the guide to the a Museum related to the cork industry which has
also played an important part in the economics of Portalegre.
Portalegre Nearby Locations
Within easy reach are the towns of Crato, Castelo de Vide, Marv�o, and the
region of Serra de S�o Mamede. The outwardly small town of Crato belies its
historic past. In the 13th Century this town was given to the powerful Order of
Hospitallers who originally assisted so capably in the fight against the Moors
in the reign of Dom Sancho II. The town became their headquarters in 1350 and
the Order later changed its name to the Order of Knights of St. John. Both King
Manuel I and his son King Jo�o III held their wedding ceremonies in this town in
the house that now houses an interesting museum.
In 1356 Dom �lvaro Gon�alves Pereira, the Master of the Order of Knights of St.
John, commenced the building to the north of the town of the attractive
Monastery Santa Maria da Fl�r da Rosa. The Order was located in the Monastery
until the reign of Dom Lu�s and in 1527 when it was replaced by the Order of
Malta. The structure was virtually destroyed in the earthquake of 1755 but was
partially rebuilt by the order of the Marqu�s de Pombal and today it has been
converted into an attractive Pousada. The Spanish in 1662 sacked and burned the
town of Crato to the ground and destroyed most structures that would today give
any suggestion of its original importance.
To the west of Crato is the Spa of Monte de Pedra and to the north is the 3.000
BC Anta do Tapad�o that is considered the second largest megalithic shelter in
Portugal. To the north of Portalegre is the nearby town of Castelo de Vide that
is a pretty Spa town with charming small streets, a Jewish Quarter, and crowned
by a 13th Century castle that was destroyed by an explosion.
To the southwest of Portalegre is Alto do Ch�o with its 14th Century castle that
was virtually destroyed by John of Austria and his army of Spanish troops in the
18th Century. Close to this town is the Coudel�ria de Alter, the home of the
internationally famous breed of Lusitanian horse "Alter Real". This stud was
founded in 1748 to specifically breed from originally Andalusia stock the nimble
classic purebred bay or brown �Alter Real�. There is an interesting museum
devoted to �The Horse and the Man� that is seriously impressive. It includes a
few very special historic Portuguese armour rescued from the salerooms from
outside Portugal. Also, there is an interesting falconry with working
exhibitions normally once a day.
Further to the south of Alter do Ch�o is the Spa Cabe�o de Vide. The Serra de
S�o Mamederegion stretches south from the town along the Spanish boarder to
Campo Maior. An area of 320 square kilometres that in 1989 was set-aside as a
protected Natural Park. The visitor will find a fascinating selection of fauna
and flora within this region. Wild boar, red deer, genet, otters, griffin
vultures, eagles, are but a few of the many species of wild life to be
discovered. There are several castles in the area including and an impressive
panoramic view of the Park that can be seen from another 13th Century castle
ruin at Marv�o that also encloses an walled historic and attractive small
village.
Portalegre Golf
Ammaia (Marv�o)
Portalegre Map (Click Here)
Portalegre Weather
     
Portalegre Events
Festa Senhora da Penha - 2nd Sunday of May
Town Holiday - 23rd May
Festa de S. Cristov�o - Last Sunday of July
Festa de N� Senhora Santa Ana - 1st Sunday of August
Festa de N� Sra da Alegria - 15th August
Festa do Bonfim - Last Sunday of September
Portalegre Information
 800 296 296 - Support to Tourists
112 - SOS
245 300 120 - Town Hall
245 366 174 - Fire Brigade
245 204 351 - Police
245 330 219 - Hospital
245 300 770 - Tourist Office
Portalegre Locations of Interest
Castle
Cathedral - S� de Portalegre
Convento de Santa Clara
Convento de S�o Bernardo
Church - Igreja da Miseric�rdia
Church - Igreja de Santa Maria
Home - Casa Amarela
Home - Casa Dom Nuno de Sousa
Santu�rio da Penha
Street - Rua da Figueira
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