Mills of the Mountains

Category: Civil Architecture > Mill

District: Lisboa > Mafra > Milharado

Location

Located in the locality of Milharado, in the municipality of Mafra, the Moinhos da Serra rise at a high elevation, offering a singular perspective on the surrounding rural landscape. Their strategic position, at the top of a hill, allows for a wide view of the fields and valleys, characteristic of this area of the Lisbon district. The environment is predominantly rustic and tranquil, marked by the breeze that once propelled their sails.

Architecture and Historical Function

The Moinhos da Serra represent a notable example of vernacular architecture associated with cereal milling. These cylindrical structures, built with robust masonry, stand out for their classic windmill typology. Each mill is crowned by a rotating dome, or cap, which allowed the wooden sails to be oriented according to the wind direction, thus ensuring maximum energy capture for the movement of the internal millstones. They were, therefore, essential elements for the subsistence of local communities, transforming grain into flour, the basis of daily sustenance.

Heritage and Landscape

The Moinhos da Serra ensemble is not just a testament to an era when wind energy was vital for the agrarian economy; it is also an identifying element of the landscape in the Mafra region. Their presence, isolated or in groups, punctuates the ridges and heights, serving as visual landmarks and living reminders of a rural past. Their conservation contributes to the safeguarding of collective memory and to the valorization of a heritage that merges harmoniously with the surrounding natural environment, inviting contemplation and recognition of human ingenuity.

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