Category: Civil Architecture > Pillory
District: Aveiro > Arouca > Alvarenga > Várzeas
The pillory is located in Trancoso square, in the parish of Alvarenga, municipality of Arouca, district of Aveiro. It is situated in a small square with granite cobbled flooring, flanked by a few trees that offer shade to passers-by.
The surroundings are marked by stone constructions, giving the space a peaceful character, where the monument stands out as a central element.
Erected around 1580, when Alvarenga was the municipal seat, the Pillory of Alvarenga symbolizes the administrative autonomy that the locality maintained until 1836. In 1933, it was classified as a Property of Public Interest.
The inscription of the royal coat of arms on the capital refers to royal patronage and to the importance this small municipality had in the territorial organization of Northern Portugal.
It stands on a circular base of three steps, carved from local granite, a material that remains resistant to the wear of time. The cylindrical column, with a smooth shaft, rises to a capital with a neck, where the national coat of arms is engraved.
The ensemble follows the 16th-century typology of pillories, without excessive ornamentation, highlighting the purity of geometric forms.
The pillory is integrated into a serene environment, where the singing of birds contrasts with the occasional murmur of automobiles. The presence of surrounding trees creates a corridor of light and shadow, ideal for those who appreciate a moment of contemplation.
This corner invites leisurely photographic breaks, especially as the ancient granite acquires different shades as the sun advances.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelourinho_de_Trancoso
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.9661154,-8.1562186
Coordinates DMS: 40°57'58.0"N 08°09'22.4"W
Weather Alvarenga
On-duty Pharmacy Alvarenga
