Cultures in Alentejo

1. Cultures in Alentejo

2. Baixo Alentejo Baixo Alentejo is one old Portuguese province. The North with the High Alentejo makes border, in the extreme Northwest with the Boundary, the West with the Atlantic Ocean, the South with the Algarve and to This with Spain. Then, the district of Beja is constituted by 18 councils, integrating all and still the South half of the district of Setúbal. It has its headquarters in the city of Beja. Currently, its territory is distributed for the alentejanas regions of the Low Alentejo and Coastal Alentejo. Distric of Beja: Aljustrel, Almodôvar, Alvito, Barrancos, Beja, Castro Verde, Cuba, Ferreira do Alentejo, Mértola, Moura, Odemira, Ourique, Serpa, Vidigueira. Distric of Setúbal: Alcácer do Sal, Grândola, Santiago do Cacém, Sines-

3. Serpa

4. Serpa Geographic AspectsHistory and Monuments Tradiction and CuriositiesEconomie

5. Geographic Aspects Region of Serpa occupies an area of 1106,5 km2 and encloses seven clienteles: Vila Nova de São Bento; Brinches; Pias; Salvador; Santa Maria; Vale de Vargo and Vila Verde de Ficalho. One meets limited the north of region of Vidigueira, the northeast for Moura, the west for Beja and the southwest for Mértola. It presented, in 2001, a total of 16 723 inhabitants. It possesss a mediterrânic climate, with a dry period of 80 the 100 days, during the Summer. In the Winter, the temperatures are low.

6. Geographic Aspects Of the hídric resources, the river Guadiana, the river Chança, the riverside of Liras, the riverside of Vidigão and the riverside of Enxoé can be related. The region lands are enclosed by the Natural Park of the Valley of the Guadiana. In the area of this park they are to enhance resources, as the river Guadiana, the Pull of the Wolf, the Historical Center of Mértola, the Mine of S. Domingos, Pomarão and the mills of water and wind.

7. History and Monuments Serpa already was populated before the domain of the Romans, however they had been these that had fomented the development of region; In 1166, Afonso was conquered to the mouros for D. Henriques Definitively it was constituted as a region by D. Dinis, in 1295 In 1512, D. Manuel gave to the new Serpa a charter one Its localization caused serious problems for the development of this region With the wars of the Restoration, Serpa was almost completely destroyed, nominated its ortaleza.

8. History and Monuments The level of the architectural património, is distinguished: The Church of San Francisco, century XVI The walls of Serpa The Sanctuary of Ours Lady of the Guadalupe, century XVI, in style moçárabe The Tower of the Clock, century XVIII The Sanctuary of Ours Lady of the Pazes.

9. Tradiction and Curiosities The popular and cultural manifestations of former concelho(are many: the party of Iria Saint, the party of Died Valleys, the party of Ours Lady of the Guadalupe). In the artesanato the works are typical of would cestaria, the cadeireiros, the miniatures, the abegão, the chairs in buinho and the stockings of cotton line. As natural personality of concelho it is distinguished Leather strap of the Mountain range, Abbot and scientist, and that she was responsible for the creation, in 1779, of the Real Academy of Sciences of Lisbon.

10. Economie Although Serpa is an administrative center, in this concelho predominates: On activities to the primary sector On activities to the secondary sector, with the on industry to the pottery and ceramics The tertiary sector with some small commerce and on services to the tourism. The cattle regista also some importance, nominated in the creation of ovinos, birds and swines

11. History of Alentejo • In the Alentejo, the vestgios of the past assault them it each step, carrying us in a true trip in the time. The grottos that had lodged the first inhabitants of peninsula, cohabit with the magnificas Villas Romans, in whose swimming pools the patrcios if refreshed of the burning sun of planicie. This cult of gua, to basic, also was common to the peoples who of the Africa north of had come to fix themselves in these stoppings. Of them present a was marked its well. Alentejana No hidding place of povoation, that no has a vivifying source and a marejado garden of colored flowers, that disclose herance genetic... in the rock that the memories of the peoples more remains. In the architecture, fortifications, monuments, tiles...

12. Nature and Environment (Distric of Beja) • The district of Beja characterizes for a plain geography and of little forest density _ a district that if extend between the Spanish ray and the Atl_ntica coast, supplying, in this way, nico a paisag_stico contrast _, and very appreciated for that in they visit them. Far of a loaded green, the district of Beja _ before a altern_ncia of chestnuts and greens, pincelados here and there for the blue one of one c_u exempts of polui__o. The ameno climate of this regi_o _, even so if can characterize for high temperatures in the Ver_o. With little rigorous Winters more, the district finds na Spring its esta__o apetec_vel. _ for this height that the fields if transform into apelos aut_nticos ao to enjoy da nature. A virgin nature, preserved for the gentes that since h _ s_culos coexist in harmony and respect the land. The Sun in the more golden Alentejo _. The nature of regi_o is enchanted with this light, exploring. S_o v_rios habitats identified in the Net Natura 2000, as either the ZPE of Moura Barrancos and Mour_o where it can find v_rias robbery birds, black stork or grous; the ZPE of I castrate Green, _ nico zonal plan of pa_s, where the estep_rias birds mark presen_a; or still the ZPE of the Guadiana where if it includes the Park Natural of the Valley of the Guadiana, that has as refer_ncia obrigat_ria the fall of _ gua known by Pull of the Wolf.