What to Visit in Vila Viçosa: The History of the Town in 10 Episodes!
If Vila Viçosa is in your plans for a stop during your trip to Alentejo, we do recommend that you really visit it. And we guarantee that you will not get disappointed!
And if you wonder what to visit in Vila Viçosa, you just need to decide how much time you can or you would like to stay here.
If you are thinking of coming here on vacation, just for a weekend or a getaway with your loved one, Vila Viçosa is the perfect place to relax, chill and enjoy… “sloowly…”, we are in Alentejo!!
Episode 1: The Roman Calipole
At the beginning, it is probably interesting to mention, that the territory of the town, as it is today, has been occupied since the Roman Empire Times. Now, you know that we are not exaggerating when we say that there is a lot to see and visit.
During the Roman times, Vila Viçosa was known as “Callipole“. The Romans started an activity that is still alive – to explore marble, our “white gold” as it is known.
The most impressive and open for visits, marble construction, made of marble from Alentejo, is the Roman Theatre “Emerita Augusta” in Merida, Spain, but of course, the Roman Temple in Evora is also fascinating.
Episode 2: From Moors to Portuguese
After the Romans, the Muslims came here and kept the territory until in 1217 King D. Afonso II, said “enough is enough” and rescued the town that was called Vale Viçoso, at the time.
Later, D. Afonso III granted a foral (letter of feudal rights) that defined the actual name of the town – Vila Viçosa. Some years later, D. Dinis was responsible for the construction of our beautiful Castle, that is still kept intact.
Episode 3: Iberian wars
After the Romans, the Muslims and the Portuguese, Vila Viçosa had sad times as, during the famous Interregnum (1383-1385), Vasco Porcalho – the governor at the time, took the side of the “Castile enemy” , against the wishes of the townspeople. The people ran away and asked for refugee in Borba…. (Borba is a town, located to the side of Vila Viçosa – the distance is 5 km) neighbors on one side, on other side – were the Spanish. And as we say in Portuguese “de Espanha nem bom vento…” (There is not even a nice wind coming from Spain).
The war with the Spanish neighbors ended later – after the victory of the Battle of Aljubarrota, that served as a lesson to our “hermanos” and put an end to their wishes to concur our beautiful Portugal… at least for some years!
Episode 4: D. Nuno, O Contestavel
After the Victory of the Portuguese over the other part of the habitants of the Iberian Peninsula, Vila Viçosa became under the possession of the great D. Nuno Alvares Pereira – one of the responsible people that kept the Portuguese border as it is until nowadays.
After this, in 1461, Vila Viçosa became part of the Bragança Dukedom.
Episode 5: Town of Dukes
The constitution of the Bragança Dukedom gave a start to a prosperity period for Vila Viçosa. The construction of the famous and remarkable Paço dos Duques de Bragança (The Palace) also contributed to the great prosperity of the town and was a decisive moment for choosing Vila Viçosa as a headquarter of the Dukedom.
As a result, Vila Viçosa was granted with e new foral by the venturous D. Manuel I.
The dynastic crisis that explained the coming of “nuestros hermanos” to govern our country in 1580, did not stop the prosperity of the Dukedom of Bragança and, overall, of D. João II, the 8th Duke of Bragança.
Episode 6: A town of Kings and Queens
Exactly this great man from Vila Viçosa, d. João II, the 8th Duke of Bragança, after the Restoring of the Independence in 1640, assumed the throne as D. João IV of Portugal. Vila Viçosa was the birth place (hometown) of the “Restorer”…and we are very proud of this fact!
Not less symbolic and a reason for pride, is the fact that the Restorer, King D. João IV, crowned Our Lady of Conception as the Patron Saint of Portugal in 1646. That is why the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Conception is part of the list “what to visit in Vila Viçosa”.
Episode 7: Deserved acknowledgment
If we were not clear enough about the importance of the history, we have to remind you that even nowadays we celebrate two important dates in Dezember: 1st of Dezember – Restoring of the Independence and 8th of Dezember – The crowning of Our Lady… The nation can be grateful for two more non-working days in the national calendar and two more days to travel.
Other interesting fact is that D. Catarina de Bragança, the daughter of D. João IV, and that was born in Vila Viçosa, became Queen of England after marrying King Charls II. She is also famous for introducing the tradition of the 5 o’clock tea – the afternoon tea is the tea of the “auntie Catarina” from Vila Viçosa.
If you are looking for hearing more curiosities and histories of this kind, we suggest our Walking Tour in Vila Viçosa.
Episode 8: One misfortune never comes alone/ When it rains, it pours… big episode
The big earthquake in 1755 gave results even here, and Vila Viçosa, as the whole region, suffered from the quakes that destroyed a lot, but as we are hard as a stone (marble), we were ready for more trouble.
As one misfortune never comes alone, after the wars with the Spanish in 1383-1385 and 1580-1640, Vila Viçosa also suffered from the hands of the other side of the Pyrenees – when Napoleon decided to try come here but the Portuguese gave him a quick lesson who is the boss!
But when it rains, it pours – Napoeon was not happy and tried again several times to enter and during three years 1807-1810 was shown the way back three times! …arrête mon ami Bonaparte, ici c’est Portugal!
And to be honest, in exchange of a lot of Porto wine, we guaranteed help from our best friends forever – the English and from the famous 1st Duque of Wellington – Sir Arthur Wellesley, whose help was decisive for sending back home the French.
Episode 9: Back to the future!
After everything went back to normal, Vila Viçosa also continued its normal life, as a place for aristocracy.
The last years of the 19th century were marked with the frequent visits of D. Carlos and D. Amelia in Vila Viçosa. D. Carlos liked to hunt at the Tapada… and liked very much to taste the hunted animals…
Episode 10: Final Episode…Good times and Bad times
The turbulence that the nation felt in the beginning of 20th century, is connected to the fact that Vila Viçosa was the starting point of the the last trip of the King – D. Carlos, that was killed and this fact led to the end of the Monarchy – thus Vila Viçosa also lost influence as a sociable place of the Royal Family and their court.
From that time, until now, there were several outstanding townspeople (called calipolense) that made the name of the town famous – as Florbela Espanca (a poet), Henrique Pousão (a painter) and Bento de Jesus Caraça (a scientist). During the 20th century, was affirmed as the best ambassador of our region in Portugal and in the whole world…the marble.
If you are interested in learning more about the history and the marble industry of Alentejo, we suggest our Marble Tour in Vila Viçosa.
