Castro Verde (civil parish)

Castro Verde
Civil Parish (Freguesia)
Official name: Freguesia de Castro Verde
Country  Portugal
Region Alentejo
Subregion Baixo Alentejo
District Beja
Municipality Castro Verde
Localities Aivados, Almeirim, Estação de Ourique, Geraldos, Monte Serro, Namorados, Piçarras
Center Castro Verde
 - elevation 224 m (735 ft)
Population 3,819 (2001)
Settlement 1st century BCE
Timezone WET (UTC0)
 - summer (DST) WEST (UTC+1)
Postal Zone 7780-217
Area Code & Prefix (+351) 286 XX XX XX
Patron Saint Nossa Senhora da Conceição
Statistics: Instituto Nacional de Estatística[1]
Website: http://www.jf-castroverde.pt/
Geographic detail from CAOP (2010)[2] produced by Instituto Geográfico Português (IGP)

Castro Verde (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈkaʃtɾu ˈveɾð(ɨ)]) is a former civil parish in the municipality of Castro Verde, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Castro Verde e Casével.[3] In the 2001, its resident population included 3819 inhabitants.[4]

History

Turdetani, Roman and Arab peoples left behind several markers in the lands, although its settlements were primarily the consequence of Lusitanian castros that dotted the landscape.[5] With the arrival the Romans in the Iberian peninsula, the region of Castro Verde began to be settled by shepards and farmers.[5] Its toponym, Castrum Veteris, was associated with a Roman military outpost which helped to protect the small pastoral communities from the 1st century BC, and later prospectors who searched for metal ore within the White Pyrite Belt.[5]

The Reconquista placed the region on the historical map; historical tradition holds that it was in São Pedro das Cabeças that the famous Battle of Ourique was waged by forces of Portuguese nobleman Afonso Henriques, who presumably decapitated five Moorish kings during the battle.[5] Historically, the battle occurred on the plains of Ourique, a vast territory that included Castro Verde. In addition, the toponomic name of São Pedro das Cabeças came from legends that indicated that a number of cadavers and skulls found in these lands, from the numerous battles.[5]

Ecclesiastically, Castro Verde was a priory of the commendatory of Saint James (Portuguese: Comenda de Santiago), who received four moios of wheat and barley, and 20,000 réis for his annual land rents.[5] Initially, the Dukes of Aveiro were the donatary chieftains of these lands, but they were eventually integrated into the possessions of the Crown.[5]

Castro Verde received its political and administrative autonomy through a foral issued by King Manuel I on 20 November 1510, which in itself indicated the centre's importance in the 16th century.[5]

Geography

The roadway leading to the Royal Basillica of Castro Verde, named in honour of Nossa Senhora da Conceição

The parish of Castro Verde, occupies almost half of the municipality, and represents one of the more important centres of Beja, owing to its population and rich natural resources. Within an area of approximately 288.6 square kilometres (111.4 sq mi), it is the central place of region that includes several smaller localities, including: Aivados, Almeirim, Estação de Ourique, Geraldos, Monte Serro, Namorados and Piçarras.[5] The superficial soils of this territory are generally poor, but the area's mineral wealth, particularly in the interior, has been explored since the first settlers arrived in the region.[5]

Geographically, the parish's territory falls within one of the more important avian and bio-regions of the country, classified as a Zona de Protecção Especial (Special Protection Zone).[5] Its steppes continue to be used by shepherds to graze their herds.[5]

Being the municipal seat and residence of 50% of the region's population, Castro Verde is equipped with many of the essential services.[5] With the growth of its population in recent years, the area has become more developed, including the south-lands, where new leisure space were established.[5]

Architecture

The simple profile of the Chapel of São Pedro das Cabeças, on the outskirts of Geraldos
The ornate facade of the Church of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios

The architectural importance of the settlement is highlighted by the Royal Basilica built in 1713, a church whose interior is covered in polychromatic tiles, depicting the legendary Battle of Ourique, and site of the museum of the royal treasury. Near this church, at the beginning of Rua D. Afonso I, is Church of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios and the Museum of Lucerne, another centre that promotes the cultural heritage of the parish/municipality.

Civic

Religious

Culture

Castro Verde is known the secular festivities on the first Wednesday in October: the Fair of Castro. The biggest fair in the region, that promotes the businesses and products of the neighbouring parishes, it receives thousands of visitors. Dating back to the medieval period, it was reinforced and promoted by Philip II, who in 1620, decreed that the proceeds of the fair would be used to improve the parochial church.

References

  1. INE, ed. (2010), Censos 2011 - Resultadas Preliminares [2011 Census - Preliminary Results] (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Instituto Nacional de Estatística, retrieved 1 January 2012
  2. IGP, ed. (2010), Carta Administrativa Oficial de Portugal (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Instituto Geográfico Português, archived from the original on 21 May 2011, retrieved 1 July 2011
  3. Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, pages 552 36-37" (pdf) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  4. Câmara Municipal, ed. (2010), População do Concelho de Castro Verde (PDF) (in Portuguese), Castro Verde, Portugal: Câmara Municipal de Castro Verde, retrieved 1 January 2013
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Junta Freguesia, ed. (2011), Castro Verde (in Portuguese), Castro Verde, Portugal: Junta Freguesia de Castro Verde, retrieved 7 February 2012
  6. Falcão, José; Pereira, Ricardo (1996), SIPA, ed., Padrão comemorativo da Batalha de Ourique (PT040206020021) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 7 February 2012
  7. Costa, Patrícia (2003), SIPA, ed., Posto de Consulta e Socorros de Castro Verde (PT040206020016) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 7 February 2012
  8. Gordalina, Rosário (2007), SIPA, ed., Mercado Municipal (PT040206020024) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 7 February 2012
  9. Gordalina, Rosário (2007), SIPA, ed., Moinho de vento (PT040206020025) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 7 February 2012
  10. Falcão, José; Pereira, Ricardo (1996), SIPA, ed., Ermida de São Pedro das Cabeças (PT040206020012) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 7 February 2012
  11. Figueiredo, Paula (2001), SIPA, ed., Ermida de São Sebastião (PT040206020010) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 7 February 2012
  12. Falcão, José; Pereira, Ricardo (1996), SIPA, ed., Ermida de São Sebastião de Almeirim (PT040206020014) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 7 February 2012

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