Pillory of Seixo da Beira

Category: Civil Architecture > Pillory

District: Coimbra > Oliveira do Hospital > Seixo da Beira > Póvoa da Barbeira

Location

Located in the parish of Seixo da Beira, in the municipality of Oliveira do Hospital, district of Coimbra, Portugal.

Historical Significance

Classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1933, the pillory dates back to ancient periods of local history.

Local History

Seixo da Beira was possibly the seat of a municipality in the past, mentioned in the Manueline charter of 1514. The current pillory may date from the 16th or 17th centuries.

Architectural Structure

Erected on a platform of three modern steps, the pillory has a tall column, about four meters high, with a prismatic finial decorated with heraldry.

Visual Details

Among the decorations, a shield of Portugal and possibly the figure of a pelican stand out, although the heraldry is difficult to distinguish today.

Changes Over Time

Old images show that the pillory originally had a different base and did not have the urn-shaped finial we see today.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelourinho_de_Seixo_da_Beira

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