[ Odeleite, Azinhal, Castro Marim, Altura ]
1. History
The exquisite outline of the flamingos, the golden soft sand and the
turquoise blue of the warm waters, and the vast ranges of hills painted
in a bright canvas of wild flowers. This tranquil countryside along the
banks of the Guadiana lush with indigenous flora are just a few facets
Castro Marim municipality that stretches from the sea to the hills with
the river as its boundary.
The remains of the first settlements
in the area date from the Neolithic
period (approximately 5000 years B.C.). These persisted into the age
of metals, possibly by way of a fort situated on the hill where the castle
now stands.
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During this period Castro Marim
was closer to the sea that it is now. According the geological
research it consisted of an island surrounded by
shallow waters.
For thousands of years Castro Marim was a port that offered shelter to
the ships that sailed u the Guadiana River to collect the metals- above
all copper- mined to the north in Alcoutim and Mértola. There
is documentary evidence of the Phoenician and Roman presence in the area
of the town, which, during the time of the Moorish occupation, possessed
a defensive structure that occupied, what was originally the core of
the present castle.
In addition to the river routes on which Castro Marim's prosperity was
founded, the town was also connected to Lisbon by a Roman road that ran
parallel to the Guadiana River and passed through Alcoutim, Mértola
and Beja.
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The Christian
reconquest in 1242 was followed in the second half
of the 13th Century, by a policy of repopulation and
reinforcing local defenses in view of the town's strategic
position on the border with the kingdom of Castile
and attacks by Moorish raiders from North Africa. This
explains why King Dinis (1261-1325) made Castro Marim
the headquarters of the Order of Christ, which had
been established in 1319 to replace the Order of the
Knights Templar. Years later, however, the Order of
Christ was transferred to Tomar, and this marked the
beginning of a period of waning fortunes for the town
and its surrounding area, which saw its population
decline.
To reverse the pattern, 1421 King João I granted Castro Marim
the privilege of being a "sanctuary for fugitives" a place of shelter
for refugees and wanted men, with the aim of attracting new lifeblood.
The town regained this privilege, with some modifications, almost until
the end of the 18th century.
Cut off from the sea, with an economy based for centuries on fishing,
salt production, agriculture and boat building, Castro Marim and the
surrounding municipality entered a long period of stagnation relieved
only by the growing dynamism of recent decades.
2.
Culture
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Main Church -
The building dates from the 18th and 19th centuries and was originally
a hermitage. The church suffered considerable damage in a fire 1960.
The church's most striking feature is its elegant bell-tower, surmounted
by a false clerestory. The main and side chapels are worth a visit for
the statues of the Archangel Gabriel - 15th century, which retains traces
of polychrome decoration, Nossa Senhora da Encarnação e
dos Mártires (Our Lady of the Incarnation and of the Martyrs -
16th century) and the finely proportioned Santa Luzia - 18th century.
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Misericórdia
Church / São Sebastião Hermitage-
Unimpressive from the
outside this church houses a main altar with seven wooden
panels dating from the 17th century and a collection
to 18th century statues.
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Santo António Hermitage -
Occupying an airy spot high on a hill, this building contains a retable
made up of seven panels depicting the miracles of the saint.
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-
Castle -
The Fortified wall
that surrounded the medieval town on top of the hill
has its origins in the 13th/14th centuries. At the time
of the Wars of Restoration (1640-1668) the castle was
adapted in accordance with the latest techniques of warfare,
including the introduction of artillery. The old castle
stands on a broad open yard. Square shaped with circular
towers at its corners and two gates, it is possibly Moorish
in origin - 10th -12th centuries. The main gate bears
and interesting design in relief in the shape of a key
and marks typical of medieval stonemasons. The ramparts
still enclose the former Misericórdia
Church with has a renaissance porch and inside two
17th century tombs, and the ruins of buildings destroyed
by the earthquake of 1755. These include the main church
(14th century), which was dedicated to Sant'Iago and
the Alcaide's Palace. The Castle affords an unrivalled
view of the Guadiana River, the town and its saltpans,
as well as the surrounding hills stretching away to
the horizon, the sea.
- Fort
of São Sebastião -
This defensive structure was built in the 17th century and was part
of a set of ramparts that surrounded the town, some parts of which
are still visible between the houses.
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Salt and Saltpans -
Seen from a distance, the saltpans look like mirrors reflecting the sun
and the piles of salt like white pyramids silhouetted against the blue
of the sky. The edge of Castro Marim nearest to the Guadiana is covered
with saltpans and their presence is centuries old. A visit to salt pans
provides an opportunity to see how as the water evaporates, the brine
that remains becomes increasingly concentrated, until crystals form in
it, and to learn about the traditional methods used to extract the salt.
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Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António
Salt Marsh Nature Reserve -
Covering an area of 2,089 hectares or 5.160 acres, with wet areas of
salt marsh, saltpans and creeks and dry areas of schisty soils, red clay,
arenite and sand, the reserve contains a wide variety of biotopes. It
therefore offers a unique opportunity to observe the different ways in
which plants and animals adapt to the natural environment. For most visitors
the reserve's biggest attraction is undoubtedly the large number of birds,
especially aquatic birds to be seen there. There are 153 species to spot,
including storks, avocets, sand pipers, mallards and the ever-popular
flamingos. Because the reserve is a permanent home to some species, a
seasonal refuge for others and a migratory sopping off point for others,
it offers ornithologists constantly changing year-round panoply of sights
and sounds. The richness of its flora - 439 plant species in all makes
the reserve a paradise for those interested in botany. Its abundant natural
wealth also includes 34 species of mollusk, 10 species of fish, 13 reptile
species, 11 amphibians, 6 species of crustacean and 13 mammals.
A visit to the reserve is an opportunity to gain an appreciation in just
a few hours of the complex world of wildlife. A visitor's centre at Cerro
da Rocha provides documentation and guides to itineraries. |
