Pillory

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Tourist Attraction

District: Bragança > Torre de Moncorvo > Mós

Location

The Pillory of Mós is located in the village of Mós, part of the municipality of Torre de Moncorvo. This historical landmark was once erected in the village's main square, serving as a central point of civic life. Currently, the structure is not fully assembled. Its fragments, made of granite ashlar, are safeguarded in different locations: some at the Mós Parish Council headquarters and one of them, the capital, under the custody of the future Municipal Museum in Torre de Moncorvo. There is an intention to re-erect them in the village's main square, restoring their presence in the original location.

Symbol of Local Power and Justice

For centuries, pillories were central elements of local administration in Portugal, marking the jurisdiction and autonomy of municipalities. This Pillory of Mós is a testament to the history of the village, which received a new charter in 1512, granted by King Manuel I. Its probable construction after this event underscores the importance of the locality at the time and the authority conferred upon it. In the past, the pillory was the place where justice was publicly exercised, from the reading of sentences to the public display of criminals, and even, in extreme cases, the application of punishments. Visiting its fragments is revisiting a period of Portuguese history when these landmarks represented municipal power.

Architectural and Historical Aspects of the Fragments

Dating from the 16th century, this pillory was designed in granite ashlar. Although not complete, its fragments reveal its original form: a truncated pyramidal base, an octagonal shaft, and a finial that included a cylinder and a small pyramid at the top. Details such as the frame decorated with lanceolate motifs at the base and the prismatic capital with roped ornaments demonstrate the artistic work of the period. Observing these pieces allows one to appreciate the aesthetics of 16th-century architecture and imagine the grandeur the pillory would have had when fully erected in the square, a dramatic and imposing symbol of authority and the community's history.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt