Category: Religious Architecture > Stone Cross
District: Bragança > Vila Flor > Santa Comba da Vilariça
The Pillory of Santa Comba da Vilariça stands in the picturesque locality of Santa Comba da Vilariça, integrated into the municipality of Vila Flor, in the heart of the Bragança district. It is typically positioned at a central point of the settlement, marking its historical importance in the urban and social fabric of the village.
Its location allows visitors to observe the tranquil rural surroundings of Trás-os-Montes, characterized by a landscape of cultivated fields and traditional housing, which frames this historical landmark in a genuine and serene environment. It is a distinctive element that harmoniously integrates into the calm Duriense landscape.
This pillory represents a material testimony to the municipal autonomy granted to Santa Comba da Vilariça upon the awarding of its charter. Usually erected in the 16th century, a period of great proliferation of these monuments in Portugal, it symbolized local judicial and administrative power, marking the village's sovereignty in relation to seigneurial or royal power.
Beyond being a landmark of justice, where penalties were executed and public edicts were read, the pillory is a symbol of identity and civic dignity for the community, evoking a past where the locality held its own prerogatives and responsibilities in governing its territory.
The Pillory of Santa Comba da Vilariça presents itself as a granite structure, a material abundant in the Trás-os-Montes region. It rests on a hexagonal stepped base, which serves as a supporting platform.
The shaft, or central column, has a smooth section and develops vertically, culminating in a simple capital of truncated pyramidal form. This is topped by a sphere, a decorative element that refers to the universality of justice or to symbolisms linked to royal heraldry. Its design reflects the functionality and robustness typical of the popular and civil architecture of the time, with a beauty that lies in its simplicity and proportion.
As an element classified as a Public Interest Property, the Pillory of Santa Comba da Vilariça plays a fundamental role in preserving the historical and cultural memory of the municipality of Vila Flor and the region. Its presence recalls the ancient privileges and the importance of Santa Comba da Vilariça in the administrative structure of the kingdom in past times.
It is a valuable piece of Portuguese heritage, offering visitors a tangible connection with the beginnings of local administrative and judicial organization, contributing to the understanding of the development of rural communities in Northeast Trás-os-Montes.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelourinho_de_Santa_Comba_da_Vilariça
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.361161738492015, -7.0680931243263885
Coordinates DMS: 41°21'40.2"N 07°04'5.1"W
On-duty Pharmacy Santa Comba da Vilariça
