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It is a curious and unique stone monument built around the year I A.D. This tower is 12 meters high and has three partial stories, whose function is still not clear. Some of the hypotheses are that it may have been a temple, a prison, a patretorium (a general's tent or central area of a Roman camp), a mansio (inn) or even a Roman villa.
Monte de Santo Antão - Colmeal da Torre
Monte de Santo Antão - Colmeal da Torre
Visits by reservation,
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The urban complex is organized around three poles corresponding to the construction phases of the town: 9th to 12th century, 12th to 19th century, and 15th to 18th century. The Belmonte Castle, the Church of São Tiago and the Chapel of Cabrais, and the pillory are central monuments of the Belmonte Historical Center.
Built in the mid-13th century, the Church of São Tiago and Cabrais Chapel are an important testimony of the late Romanesque in Beira Interior. Inside, one can observe a granite Pietá and wall paintings from at least two eras, and one can find traces of a triptych built by figures representing Our Lady, St. James (orago) and St. Peter. The Cabrais Chapel, or Cabrais Pantheon, is where the tombs of several members of the Cabral family are, such as the tombs of Pedro Álvares Cabral's parents.
The Museum of Discoveries or Interpretation Center "Discovering the New World (DNM)" is located in the backyard of the Solar dos Cabrais and allows you to know and explore in an innovative way one of the greatest achievements of the History of the Portuguese Discoveries - the discovery of Brazil. With 16 different rooms, filled with content collected and researched over 5 years in institutions around the world and with the help of RTP, we can almost feel what it was like to be aboard one of the ships in the Atlantic on a voyage of more than 500 years.
Here you can learn about the morphology of the land surrounding the river, the fauna and flora that depend on it along its entire 240 km course, from the source to the mouth, where it flows into the Tagus. The exhibition is divided into three parts: Childhood, Youth, and Adulthood - the time when the waters are diluted in the Tagus River. It is also possible to learn about the main threats to the river and its ecosystems.
Belmonte is the only Peninsular community to legitimately inherit the ancient historical presence of Sephardic Jews and the oldest in Portugal. The Jewish Museum enhances this and aims to be a unique educational and teaching space about Judaism, the culture of the Jewish people, their integration into Portuguese society, their contribution to culture, art, literature, commerce, and crafts, as well as the culture and religion of the Jews, their rituals and customs, in the synagogue and at home. Founded in 2005, the museum is filled with pieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Genuine pieces that were used by Jews, New Christians and their descendants in religious acts, daily life and professional activity.
It is located in the old Judiaria and is very popular with Jews and the curious to learn more about the Jewish community. Inaugurated 500 years after the expulsion of Jews decreed by D. Manuel, this synagogue, besides being oriented towards Jerusalem, has a representation of a candelabra on the door, as well as a Star of David.
With more than 200 pieces donated by residents, the permanent exhibition "Arts and Crafts" aims to show the history of ancient professions, the richness of their existence and production, their tasks and their social and anthropological value. It features objects from the daily life of ancestors with the goal of disseminating and preserving memories of the region's way of life, also showing its evolution.
The Houe of the Tower was built in the early fourteenth century and at the time served as the residence of the bishops of Guarda. It rises with great splendor in the urban landscape of the town, thus demonstrating the great power of political and religious institutions since Roman times until today. Today it is a Center for Archaeological Studies. In its three floors we find archaeological pieces collected from various places in the municipality of Belmonte: on the first floor are on display finds from the medieval and Roman periods, with many coins, decorative objects, aras, personal, decorative, hunting and war utensils; on the second floor the exhibition goes from the fifteenth century to the nineteenth century; and on the top floor there is a restoration workshop.
The Roman ruins of Vila da Fórnea are a monumental complex dating back to the 2nd century, built with various divisions, some of which are still well defined, namely olive oil and wine presses, cereal processing, iron foundry, animal stables. Also uncovered were some thermal baths, with the traditional tanks, which would allow for baths of different temperatures, as well as vestiges of the hypocaust and apoditerium which would complete the equipment of a thermal bath and various compartments related to the dwelling of the owners and their dependents.
Simple building, with only one floor and only one door and window, in a discreet place to ensure the anonymity of the mothers who left their children. This house has an opening in the wall with a revolving structure where the children were left on one side and their belongings on the other. Inside it is possible to see an exhibition on the theme and also some objects and documents.
The Welcome Center in Belmonte aims to be a space of excellence in welcoming all those who visit us. This tourist office has a contemporary decoration concept, using minimalist furniture, in order to be a space with several valences beyond the welcoming of tourists, such as gastronomic exhibitions, product launches and presentation of literary works, among others. The space is also equipped with an exhibition room.
A candelabra that celebrates one of the main Jewish festivals and is marked "by a family atmosphere and great joy". A nine-armed candelabra is used, with the lighting of one candle per day, recalling the eight days when the flame burned miraculously, as described in the Old Testament.
It is estimated that it was built by order of D. Sancho I in the 12th century, but it underwent many changes, the most notable being the construction of panoramic windows, one of them in Manueline style, and bastions in the years when it had a military function. With so many changes, the construction of Belmonte Castle integrates an unusual miscellany of architectural styles - Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, and 18th century traces. Currently, the building has tourist and cultural functions, an open-air amphitheater was built and the Keep and 19th-century room were adapted to museum spaces dedicated to the history of the County and the Castle.
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