CMARA MUNICIPAL DE SARDOAL

POSTO TURISMO 2013

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TOWN Sardoal county belongs to Santarm district, in the centre of Portugal.
With an area of 91,944 square kilometers, it has about 4000 inhabitants. Sardoal is divided into 4 parishes: Sardoal, Alcaravela, Valhascos e Santiago de Montalegre.

In 1313, the Queen Saint Elizabeth from Portugal gave the place some perks and exemptions and it it believed she gave Sardoal its first charter.

However, documents show that the first charter was given by King John III, on 22nd September, 1531.

SARDOAL ORIGIN OF THE NAME

The origin of the name is not known. Sardo can be related to the wild soil characteristic from the region or to the oak trees that were common in the region. Popular tradition relates the name to a kind of lizzard.

O PELOURINHO (THE PILLORY)

This monument is in the centre of the main square (Praa da Repblica). It is a Manueline monument with 4 plain octagonal stairs, over which the post was erected. It is 2,10 high. The capital is formed by a parallelepiped, which shows the coat of arms of the town and the inscription of the year 1531.

CHAPEL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

In Sardoal there are 3 churches and 6 chapels.

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit is characterized by its simple architecture, dating back to 1603.
There are some older references dating back to 1470, during Afonso V reign. These references had to do with the celebration of Festa do Bodo, related to the Holy Spirit. On the exterior wall of the Chapel there is a major panel of tiles by Gabriel Constant, which represents a scene of the tragicomedy Pastoril da Serra da Estrela, by Gil Vicente.

This shows this great Portuguese author knew Sardoal quite well!

IGREJA MATRIZ (MOTHER CHURCH)

This church is, undoubtedly, the most important mark of the town. It dates back to the 14th century.

It is a mixture of styles: Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassicism

MESTRE DE SARDOAL PAINTINGS

ALTARPIECE IN THE MAIN ALTAR

IGREJA DA MISERICRDIA (Misericordia Church)

This is a 16th century church, but its origins go back to 1370, when King Ferdinand I and Queen Leonor de Teles settled in the region fleeing from the Black Death. It has got a stone renaissance doorway, by Spanish arquitect Juan de Castillo.

The inner walls are covered by blue and white tiles from the 18th century. On the main altar there is a wooden image of Christ from the 17th century.

OLD TOWN

These streets keep the memories of old times. Only after the 16th century did the town spread to the north, as many Sardoalenses embarked on the naus to India and Brazil.

IGREJA DA SANTA MARIA DA CARIDADE (Convent)

This Convent was founded by Franciscan Monks. In its palce there was a chapel dedicated to Santa Maria da Caridade, in the year 1571. It was rebuilt in 1676, by D. Gaspar Barata de Mendona, the first Archbishop of Baia, in Brazil

Namban Art

THE HOLY WEEK

FOGAREUS PROCESSION

CELEBRATIONS

HANDICRAFT

STRAW FANS

TRAPOLOGIA - RAGS

ARTELINHO

GASTRONOMY

HISTORIC PLACES

SARDOAL TODAY

In Sardoal no one is a visitor!