Top 5 Castles around Igrejinha

Access to a group of houses belonging to the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation. It can be visited.👍🇵🇹

Arraiolos is a pleasant Alentejo town, whose foundation dates back to the second century BC. The mediaeval castle was built at the orders of D. Dinis (1279-1325), although the town soon spread beyond its walls. An important part of the town's artistic heritage is the sixteenth-century Salvador church, with some extremely beautiful paintings. The name of this town is well known internationally thanks to the famous Arraiolos carpets, which are produced here by the local craftsmen and women, having been referred to in documents as long ago as the sixteenth century. Some art historians have devoted themselves to studying and characterising this art, which has continued to grow in importance over the years. The types of pattern that are used can be divided into three distinct periods: the first period (in the eighteenth century) was based on compositions that betrayed the decorative influences of Persian carpets (these are considered to be amongst some of the finest examples); the second period (again in the eighteenth century) brought popularly inspired designs, such as figures or animals; and the third period (at the end of the eighteenth century and continuing into the nineteenth century) brought less dense and much more stylised patterns.

The Royal Palace of Évora (Portuguese: Pa'o Real de Évora), also known as the Royal Palace of São Francisco (Pao Real de S'o Francisco) and the Palace of King Manuel I (Palácio de D. Manuel), is a former royal residence of the kings of Portugal. The Royal Palace of Évora has its origins in the Convent and College of São Francisco, built before the reign of King Afonso IV. The convent's first royal function was in 1336. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Palace_of_%C3%89vora

The original palace was built in the 14th century next to the Tower of Évora, where Martim Afonso de Mello, a servant of the Royal Military Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz and a descendant of the Portuguese crown, ordered its construction. The palace was partially built on the Roman-Visigothic walls of the old castle of Évora, and traces of both remain in its buildings. At the rear of the palace, you can admire the extraordinary Torre das Cinco Quinas, the famous pentagonal tower that gave it its name. In addition to the large outdoor gardens and the numerous rooms and halls that make up the complex, it also houses the Casa Cadaval exhibition rooms, which house a collection of illuminated codices, sculptures, paintings, and armories with pieces from the 15th and 18th centuries. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_the_Dukes_of_Cadaval

Located in the historic center of Évora, the Pateo de Sao Miguel (Páteo de Sao Miguel) possesses great symbolic significance, a site marked by successive military occupations over the centuries and serving as a setting for notable events in the history of the city and the country. ...The area enjoys the status of a noble and palatial zone. Its architectural ensemble includes the Sao Miguel Palace, the Ermida de Sao Miguel, the Carriage Collection, and the Eugénio de Almeida Archive and Library... https://www.cm-evora.pt/locais/pateo-de-sao-miguel/ This impressive complex has been beautifully restored and is definitely worth a visit.

Visiting the Cadaval Palace is to feel up close what is also the history of Portugal. The ancestral home and the property of the Dukes of Cadaval family, since its foundation in the 14th century until today, the Palace was built on the ruins of a Moorish Castle in the heart of Évora, and has been able to extend itself over time in all its essence through careful intervention programs. Located in front of the Roman Temple, the Palace is a singular example of the country’s architectural heritage, resulting from a unique combination of Mudéjar, Gothic and Manueline styles. The building’s body includes a vast multi-storey residential area, two interior gardens and a church that is the final resting place for every generation of the Dukes of Cadaval family. The church is, moreover, a national reference given its stunning interior, where azulejo tile panels signed and dated from the beginning of the 18th century prevail. Martim Afonso de Melo, noble servant of the Grand Master of the Order of Aviz and descendant of the Portuguese royal family, commissioned the building, then designated the Palace of the Tower of the Five Shields. The Palace served as the temporary residence of the monarchs Dom João II, Dom João IV and Dom João V. The Palace was also used to imprison the Duke Dom Fernando II of Braganza, accused of conspiring against King Dom João II and subsequently beheaded in the Praça do Giraldo, in Évora, in 1483. Today the Palace remains the residence of the Dukes of Cadaval, although the church and some of the rooms are open to the public throughout the year, exhibiting a collection of historical and contemporary pieces from the family: books, charters, armoury, painting, sculpture, furniture, porcelain, portraits and travel accessories, among other objects of value and major historical interest. At the same time, the Palace temporarily hosts several international cultural and artistic exhibitions.

Visiting Cadaval Palace is to experience up close the history of Portugal. The cradle and property of the Dukes of Cadaval family, from its founding in the 14th century to the present day, the Palace arose on the ruins of a Moorish castle in the heart of Évora, and has managed to preserve its essence through careful renovation programs. Located opposite the Roman Temple, the Palace is a unique example of the country's architectural heritage, resulting from the fusion of Mudejar, Gothic, and Manueline styles. The building's main building includes a vast multi-story residential area, two interior gardens, and a church that also serves as a pantheon for all generations of the Dukes of Cadaval family. The church is also a national landmark for its grand interiors, dominated by tile panels signed and dated to the early 18th century. Martim Afonso de Melo, a noble servant of the Master of Aviz and a descendant of the Portuguese royal family, commissioned the construction of the building, then known as the Palácio da Torre das Cinco Quinas (Palace of the Tower of the Five Quinas), which served as the temporary residence of the monarchs Dom João II, Dom João IV, and Dom João V. It was also in this palace that Dom Fernando II, Duke of Braganza, was imprisoned, accused of conspiracy against King Dom João II and later beheaded in Praça do Giraldo, Évora, in 1483. Today, the palace remains the residence of the Dukes of Cadaval, although the church and parts of the rooms are open to the public year-round, displaying a collection of the family's historical and contemporary pieces—books, charters, armory, paintings, sculptures, furniture, porcelain, portraits, and travel accessories, among others—while also hosting and temporarily hosting various international cultural and artistic exhibitions.

The Arraiolos Castle, or Paço dos Alcaides, is a 14th century castle located in Central Alentejo. Although it is not the largest castle in the region, it has a curious and almost unique peculiarity in the world, which makes it stand out in an area of the country with so many buildings of this type: its layout is circular architecture. For those who arrive in the town of Arraiolos (or pass through the surrounding region) it is impossible not to see the Arraiolos Castle, which stands proudly in the landscape, at the top of Monte de São Pedro. Historically, the Arraiolos Castle has had several roles. It was built in 1306 by D. Dinis, housing the population within its walls. Later it was the county seat of D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, 2nd Count of Arraiolos, who lived here for many years. Due to the cold and wind resulting from its location, it ended up losing many of its inhabitants. In an attempt to keep some of the population inside the walls, they began to be closed every night after the bell rang, which continued for several decades. However, the population eventually spread out along the surrounding slopes and three centuries after it was built, the Castle began to be looted for materials, eventually falling into ruins. It was during the reign of King John IV that it underwent major renovation work, but it eventually fell into ruins again, worsened by the earthquake of 1755. Between 1959 and 1963, it was partially restored by the State, achieving the appearance it still has today.