177th Concentração MGCP

Almond trees were one of the attractions, but the local climate did not allow their blossoming to coincide with our weekend.
The Fresco Route, involving 15 Alentejo municipalities such as Alandroal, Aljustrel, Alvito, Beja, Borba, Castro Verde, Cuba, Évora, Montemor-o-Novo, Moura, Portel, Serpa, Viana do Alentejo, Vidigueira and Vila Viçosa still leaves much to be discovered in other churches, chapels and hermitages in the region that are more easily open to groups to expose these hidden treasures that are around 500 years old.
Guided by Dr. Dulce Lopes, we saw several Fresco Mural Paintings in the Matriz and Misericórdia Churches, in Vila Ruiva, and also in the Chapel of N. Sra. da Represa. The next day we finished this Route in the Church of São Luís, in Faro do Alentejo.
For the visit to the Igreja Matriz de São Vicente, in Cuba, it was Dr. Nuno Sota who introduced us to the collection of archeology, painting, statuary, jewellery, textiles and decorative arts pieces that make up his Artistic Treasure, created in 2003, after having already told us about this religious building covered with 17th century tiles and altarpieces and statuary from the 17th and 18th centuries.

These two aspects alone encourage us to return, but there is more to remember:

• The Hospedaria do Carmo that helped a lot to balance the final value of the event;
• The abundant food of increasing refinement, from that of D. Francisca at the Restaurante Chave D’Ouro to that of Chef João Mourato at Quinta do Quetzal;
• The availability and affability of Ricardo Monteiro, who received us at the Herdade do Rocim beyond his working hours;
• The collaboration and enthusiasm of José Gonçalves at the Herdade da Figueirinha e Monte Novo, who helped us with two sporting events and guided us in the visits to the olive press, almond grove and cellar, presenting us the house wines in good Alentejano as follows: “Sê bem-vindo à Herdade da Figueirinha. Segue a tua INTUIÇÃO e NÃ TE RALES porque não vais apanhar AMNÉSIA, pois TÃ SOMENTE vais sair daqui CANTANDO a caminho de FONTE MOURO”;
• Finally, the two asymmetrical visits to private spaces, of which we leave here a note.

• ecoPalacete Borralho and Clock, in Cuba

In the same family for 6 generations, the year 1875 is the most probable date of its construction and its most distinguished and enterprising inhabitant is Mr. José Joaquim Palma Borralho (1985-1968). He distinguished himself in the areas of Agriculture (>3,000 hectares of farmland), Industry (Palbor Mill), Public Service (providing electricity to the population from the Mill), Social Action (support for early childhood education, maternity, food, having been Provider of the local Sta Casa da Misericórdia) and Politics (Administrator of the Municipality of Cuba).

• Quinta do Carmo, in Vidigueira

The property was purchased at public auction in 1932 by Mr. Joaquim Toscano Sampaio, grandfather of Mrs. Maria do Carmo who, with her husband Dr. Mário Maia e Silva, welcomed us at the entrance of the property. The Carmelite Convent of N. Sra. das Relíquias dates from the end of the 15th century (+/- 1496) and is related to the cult of the Virgin Mary.
Legend has it that around 1480/1481, when King D. Afonso V reigned, this new cult had its origin in the apparition of the Virgin at the top of a wild olive tree to which a humble shepherdess had leaned crying for not having anything to eat, since she had left from home without the bread that her mother had not yet baked. The Virgin told her to return home and look in the bread chest, which she found full, so much so that they shared it with the other inhabitants of the Monte dos Alfaiates. In view of the prodigy of bread, a chapel was erected there, which was later given to the Carmelite monks of Moura, so that they could establish a convent there. Its foundation is documented by a charter issued by King D. Manuel I, on 7th January 1496, in Montemor.
However, the historical importance of this monument has to do with Vasco da Gama who, having been born in Sines, was passionate about the area and dreamed of one day becoming the owner of these lands that belonged to the Illustrious House of Bragança. This came true when, with the discovery of the maritime route to India, King D. Manuel I granted him great wealth, to which he added, in 1519, the title of 1st Count of Vidigueira, as well as the right to use his name as D. Vasco da Gama.
As even before becoming lord of the villages of Vidigueira and Frades, Vasco da Gama was already a great friend of the friars of the convent, he expressed to them the desire to be buried there. To acquire this right for himself and his descendants, he paid them 13,000 reais, which he left written in a document.
Back in India, Vasco da Gama died in Cochin, where he was buried, on 24th December 1524, when he had held the position of 2nd Viceroy of India for only 3 months. However, the family moved all influences to persuade the king to fulfil his wish to be buried in Vidigueira. This happened in 1539, the year in which the conventual church was rebuilt on the initiative of D. Miguel da Gama, the navigator’s grand-nephew. This church, which possessed great riches, including a reliquary and a peace-holder in gold, silver and precious stones brought from India by the priest André Coutinho, served as a pantheon for Gama descendants, the Counts of Vidigueira and the Marquises of Nisa.
With the extinction of the religious orders in Portugal, in 1834, King D. Pedro IV ordered that its riches be taken to Évora in order to preserve them from possible thefts. Only the Frescos and tombs remained, which were desecrated in 1841 when the convent was abandoned and it was believed that great lords would have been buried with jewels and other valuables. Thus, no one in Vidigueira can guarantee that it was really the remains of the navigator that were transferred to the Jerónimos Monastery, in 1880, not least because the Royal Academy of Sciences in Lisbon rejected the first skeletons sent.
The original layout of the convent was quite different. It was the Viscount of Ribeira Brava, Mayor of Vidigueira in two terms (1890 to 1902), who modified it.
In 1918, the image of Nª Sra. das Relíquias was taken to the Church of S. Francisco where she is venerated as patroness and from where every year she leaves in procession to revisit her first home.

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