Page 215 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

The stunning village of
Sortelha, watched over
by its castle

Cabral, the first navigator to
land in Brazil, had forebears
who fought at Ceuta (p44) and
Aljubarrota (p173). Fernão, an
earlier ancestor, was famed
for his feats of strength. The
family crest, incorporating a
goat (cabra), can be seen in
the castle and adjacent
chapel. The castle, begun in
1266, retains its keep and a STAY
Manueline window added
later. The little church of São in the Treaty of Alcañices, the
Tiago nearby has preserved castle was refortified by the Casa da Lagariça
its Romanesque sim plicity: ever-industrious King Dinis. Accommodation in one
the frescoes above the altar Its imposing towered walls of Sortelha’s attractive
and, in a tiny side chapel, a and unusual five-sided keep old stone houses, this
granite pietà date from the survive from this era, although 18th-century former
13th century. Beside the the castle suffered in peace- grape store now offers
church is the 15th-century time from villagers raiding it three bedrooms,
Capela dos Cabrais which for building stone. two bathrooms and
holds the Cabral family tombs. Peopled since prehistoric a kitchen.
The modern Igreja da times, Sabugal still has part of ! F3 ⌂ Calçada de Santo
Sagrada Família (1940) is the its medieval walls, reinforced Antão 11, Sortelha
repository for a treasured in the 17th century and now ∑ casalagarica.com
statue of Nossa Senhora da ringed by newer houses. In ¡¡¡
Esperança said to have the Praça da República stands
accompanied Cabral on his a granite clock tower, recon- Solar de Alarcão
voyage to Brazil. The Museu structed in the 17th century.
Judaico de Belmonte charts This 17th-century
manor house, with a
the development of the Jewish serene atmosphere and
community in the region. 27 filled with antiques,
Northeast of Belmonte is is right in the heart
the Roman Centum Cellas, Sortelha of Guarda, near
also called Torre de Colmeal. ! F3 ⌂ 20 km (12 miles) the cathedral.
It is not known what the role west of Sabugal
of this square, three-storeyed ! F3 ⌂ Rua Dr Miguel de
Alarcão 25–27, Guarda
structure was – maybe a Wrapped in its ring of walls, ∑ solardealarcao.pt
hostel or military base, a Sortelha is enchanting. This
mansion or a temple. beautifully preserved town ¡¡¡
sits on a granite outcrop and
Museu Judaico the views from the high keep
de Belmonte of its gem of a 13th-century
⌂ Rua da Portela 4 § 275 castle are stunning.
088 698 # Tue–Sun The castle has several granite houses. Sortelha’s old
Manueline features, including town is a short walk or drive
the coat of arms of Manuel I from a newer town where you
26 and armillary spheres. Parts will find shops and restaurants.
of its walls were blown up
The local fondness for
Sabugal by Napoleon’s troops but bullfights is reflected in
later rebuilt. names of nearby villages
! F3 @ n Inside the castle;
271 750 080 In front of the castle such as Vila do Touro. In a local
entrance is a 16th-century variation of the controversial
In 1296, when this small town pillory with an armillary sphere sport, the capeia, bulls were
beside the Côa river was on top. In the tiny citadel are taunted into charging into a
confirmed as Portuguese a school and stony lanes of huge fork of branches.
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