Category: Civil Architecture > Moinho de Vento
District: Beja > Mértola > Mértola > Moinho
The Windmill stands in the locality of Moinho, in the municipality of Mértola, district of Beja, in a region characterized by the vast plains and rolling landscapes of Alentejo. Its elevated position, chosen strategically to capture the prevailing wind, offers a broad perspective of the rural surroundings. From this point, the gaze can be lost in the Alentejo immensity, dotted with cork oaks and holm oaks, under a sky that often presents itself in an intense blue, typical of Southern Portugal.
The structure of the Windmill follows the traditional design of tower mills, common in this region of the country. With a robust base, generally built in stone masonry, plastered and whitewashed, the mill has a cylindrical or slightly conical shape that tapers as it rises. At the top, its windshaft or rotating cap stands out, made of wood, where the sails were fitted to capture the wind's force. This mechanism allowed the sails to be oriented according to the wind direction, ensuring the operation of the milling machinery inside.
This Windmill is a silent testament to the rich agricultural heritage and human ingenuity that once shaped the landscape and life in Alentejo. Its primary function was the milling of cereals, essential for the subsistence of rural communities. Wheat, barley, and other grains were transformed here into flour, serving as the base for bread and other foods that nourished generations. It thus represents a vital link to the past, revealing production practices based on natural energy and sustainability before the industrial era.
More than just a functional structure, the Windmill stands as an iconic element of the Alentejo landscape. Its solitary presence on the horizon, its distinct silhouette against the sunrise or sunset, lends it a particular charm and an aura of timelessness. It is an invitation to contemplate the surrounding natural environment and to reflect on the harmony between nature and human interventions. It symbolizes human resilience and adaptation to the elements, using the wind, an inexhaustible resource, for its basic needs.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.64506563014037, -7.666469686875271
Coordinates DMS: 37°38'42.2"N 07°39'59.3"W
On-duty Pharmacy Mértola
