| BORBA |
The small Alentejan market town of Borba, twice occupied by
the Spaniards in 1662/3, is noted for its white marble and fruity
wines. Standing dazzlingly bright among the olive groves, and
nestled into the northern slopes of the diminutive Serra de
Borba mountain range, the whole place was built with local marble,
including the paving stones in the streets.
What to see. The late 16th-century Church of São
Bartolomeu is full of marble treasures, including the altars,
tables, porticos, fonts, balustrades, basins and stairs. Rising
above is a splendid vaulted Renaissance-style ceiling with medallions
and religious paintings. In the centre of the town is a huge
white marble tank and fountain built by Queen Maria I in 1781.
Nearby. A monument approximately 4 km south-west of Borba
commemorates the battle of Montes Claros (June 1665), in which
Schomberg finally defeated the Spaniards under the Marquês
de Carracena. The neighbouring town of Vila Viçosa, with
its bastioned castle, royal palace and convemt, is worth a full
afternoon's sightseeing.
Travelling between Estremoz and Vila Viçosa, you can't
fail to notice the huge marble quarries just outside Borba.
The marble produced here is among the best in the world and
much of it is exported to Italy. As well as being used for local
buildings, the marble chips can be heated in an earth oven to
produce whitewash after water has been added, hence the traditional
white-coloured buildings across the region |
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| © 2007 Maisturismo |
