Alandroal

Alandroal is a municipality in the Portuguese district of Évora located on the eastern frontier with Spain along the right margin of the Guadiana River in the Central Alentejo region.

The municipality is delimited in the north by Vila Viçosa, east by the Guadiana River and Spanish border, south by Mourão and Reguengos de Monsaraz, and west by the municipality of Redondo. Alandroal is one of three towns defined within the municipality of the same name, and includes the vilas of Terena and Juromenha.

Economy

The municipality’s economic activities are connected to the primary and secondary sectors primarily. Agriculture continues to be important, with the cultivation of cereals, foraging and industrial plants, such as olive orchards dominating the rural landscape. The raising of livestock, namely poultry, swine and cattle, also draws on local resources, while 36.3% (or 1711 hectares) of the territory is covered in forests, allowing a nascent saw-milling and carpentry industry.

Architecture

Prehistoric

Castro of Castelo Velho (Portuguese: Castro de Castelo Velho), a fortified settlement situated over the Rio Lucefecit associated with metallurgical activities during the Chalolithic era, that includes several structures and short wall. The site had human settlement since the Bronze Age until the Moorish occupation, but little information on events leading to its abandon.
Fortified settlement/sanctuary of Endovélico (Portuguese: Povoado fortificado e Santuário de Endovélico)

Civic

Farmers Guild of Alandroal (Portuguese: Grémio de Lavoura do Alandroal)
Fountain of Praça (Portuguese: Fonte das Bicas/Fonte Monumental da Praça/Fonte da Praça)
Great Mill of São Brás dos Matos (Portuguese: Azenha Grande de São Brás dos Matos)
Mill of Azenhas d’el Rei (Portuguese: Moinho das Azenhas d’el Rei)
Municipal Hall of Alandroal (Portuguese: Paços do Concelho de Alandroal)
Municipal Hall of Terena (Portuguese: Edifício dos Paços do Concelho de Terena/Celeiro Comum/Hospital da Misericórdia)
Old Bridge of Terena (over the Ribeira de Lucefécit) (Portuguese: Ponte Velha de Terena sobre a Ribeira de Lucefécit)
Pillory of Alandroal (Portuguese: Pelourinho de Alandroal)
Pillory of Juromenha (Portuguese: Pelourinho da Juromenha)
Pillory of Terena (Portuguese: Pelourinho de Terena)
Spring of the Misericórdia (Portuguese: Fonte da Misericórdia)

Military

Castle of Alandroal (Portuguese: Castelo de Alandroal), is a castle constructed during the reign of King D. Denis, dated 6 February 1294; its cornerstone was laid-down by Lourenço Afonso, 9th Master of the Order of Avis;
Castle of Terena (Portuguese: Castelo de Terena), Gil Martins and his wife, D. Maria João were responsible for its founding in 1262, to support the interests of King D. Denis to consolidate his kingdom’s frontiers;^[
Fortress of Juromenha (Portuguese: Fortaleza de Juromenha)

Religious

The isolated chapel of Nossa Senhora da Consolação in the parish of Nossa Senhora da ConsolaçãoThe Gothic sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Assunção da Boa Nova, erected to honour the alliance between Castille and Portugal at the Battle of Salado

Chapel of Santo António (Portuguese: Capela de Santp António)
Chapel of São Sebastião (Portuguese: Capela de São Sebastião)
Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Portuguese: Igreja Matriz do Alandroal/Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição)
Church of Nossa Senhora do Loreto (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de Juromenha/Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Loreto)
Church of Santo António (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de Capelins/Igreja de Santo António)
Church of São Brás (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de São Brás dos Matos/Igreja de São Brás)
Church of São Francisco de Assissi (Portuguese: Igreja de São Francisco de Assissi)
Church of São Pedro (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de Terena/Igreja de São Pedro)
Church of São Tigao (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de Santiago Maior/Igreja de São Tiago)
Church of the Misericórdia of Alandroal (Portuguese: Igreja e Hospital da Misericórdia do Alandroal)
Church of the Misericórdia of Juromenha (Portuguese: Igreja da Misericórdia da Juromenha)
Church of the Misericórdia of Terena (Portuguese: Igreja da Misericórdia de Terena)
Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Consolação (Portuguese: Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Consolação)
Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Vitória (Portuguese: Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Vitória)
Hermitage of Nossa Senhora das Neves (Portuguese: Ermida de Nossa Senhora das Neves)
Hermitage of Santa Clara (Portuguese: Ermida da Santa Clara)
Hermitage of Santo Amaro (Portuguese: Ermida de Santo Amaro)
Hermitage of Santo António (Portuguese: Ermida de Santo António)
Hermitage of São Bento (Portuguese: Ermida de São Bento)
Hermitage of São Pedro (Portuguese: Ermida de São Pedro)
Hermitage of São Sebastião (Portuguese: Ermida de São Sebastião)
Hermitage/Shelter of Santa Marina (Portuguese: Ermida e Albergaria de Santa Marina/Ermida e Albergaria de Nossa Senhora da Fonte Santa)
Hospice/Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Saúde (Portuguese: Hospício e Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Saúde)
Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Assunção da Boa Nova (Portuguese: Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Assunção da Boa Nova/Capela da Boa-Nova), the fortified Gothic sanctuary/church was founded in 1340 by D. Maria, wife of Alfonso XI Castilo and daughter of Afonso V of Portugal, after the victory at the Battle of Salado using a Greek cruciform plan. In 1700, it was remodelled by commander Luís Lencastre, followed later in the 18th century by the construction of two collateral altars, while maintaining the vaulted ceilings, itself painted in murals consisting of 20 rectangular images depicting the bible themes from the apocalypse of Saint John, and representations of the monarchs of the first dynasty;
Way of the Cross (Portuguese: Passos do Senhor)

Culture

Popular and religious festivals in the municipality include the annual pilgrimage to the sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Boa Nova in Terena, during the Easter Sunday; the fair of São Bento, on 15 April; and the fair in Juromenha, on 10 August.

Local artisans are also proficient in working with cork, nerium woods and schist stone.