| SANTARÉM |
Standing on a ridge above the River Tagus, the historic city
of Santarém is one of the earliest and most interesting
places in the region. Known as Praesidium Julium by the Romans,
it was once one of the strongest fortresses in Portugal, thanks
to its prominent position overlooking the extensive Ribatejan
plains.
In the middle of the 7th century, the body of Santa Iria (St
Irene) was brought here and soon afterwards the town was captured
by the Moors, eventually being retaken by the Christians in
the 12th century. Today, Santarém is an important agricultural
centre, famous for its annual 10-day fair at the beginning of
June.
What to see. The 14th-century Graça Church has
a spectacular rose window carved from a single stone. It also
contains the tomb of Pedro Alvares Cabral, the navigator who
discovered Brazil in 1500. Founded by King Sancho in the 13th
century, the convent church of São Francisco boasts a
fine west door and a Gothic cloister. The multi-windowed Baroque
edifice of the Church of the Seminary was built by João
IV for the Jesuits in 1640 on the site of a royal palace. Its
vast interior features a painted wooden ceiling and marble and
gilt ornamentation. Boasting a fine Manueline portal, the Church
of Marvila on Rua 1 de Dezembro is lined with impressive 17th-century
diamond-patterned azulejo glazed tile panels. The town's archaeological
museum covers the Roman and Moorish periods of the city's history
and includes the elaborate tomb of Duarte de Meneses, killed
in an affray with the Moors in Morocco in 1464. The walls of
the ancient Portas do Sol citadel afford an inspiring view of
the surrounding Ribatejan landscape.
Nearby. At Almoster, 10 km due west of Santarém,
is the restored Bernardine convent of Santa Maria. Founded in
1289, it has a 14th-century carved wooden crucifix on a lateral
altar and some exceptional late-17th century Baroque gold woodwork.
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| © 2007 Maisturismo |
