Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Santarém > Tomar > Portela de Nexebra > Casais e Alviobeira
The Portela de Nexebra Washhouse is serenely integrated into the locality of Portela de Nexebra, part of the parish of Casais and Alviobeira, in the municipality of Tomar, district of Santarém. This place is set in an environment that invites observation of rural life and the characteristic landscapes of the region. Its position in the village allows for a perspective on how the community organized itself around its daily needs and natural resources, marking a point of traditional meeting and labor for its inhabitants.
This washhouse is an emblematic testimony of the domestic and social routines of yesteryear. It represents a focal point in the lives of communities, where the tasks of washing clothes took place, not only as a chore but also as a moment for socializing and sharing stories. Visiting the Portela de Nexebra Washhouse is like stepping back in time and imagining the buzz of voices, the beating of clothes, and the smell of soap that once filled this space.
Its existence recalls an era when dependence on local water resources was absolute and community life revolved around shared spaces for essential activities. It is a place that invites reflection on the changes in lifestyle and the evolution of domestic infrastructure over the decades, preserving the memory of a recent past.
The structure of the Portela de Nexebra Washhouse reflects a practical and functional architecture, designed to serve a community need. Generally built with robust and durable materials, such as stone and wood, it presents the essential elements of a public washhouse: washing basins and scrubbing areas, often with inclined stones to facilitate the work of the washerwomen.
Although its simplicity may be noted, its design is ingenious in its functionality, taking advantage of water availability and creating a sheltered, or partially covered, space to protect from sun and rain. These architectural details reveal empirical intelligence in the construction of spaces that directly responded to the demands of daily life and the manual labor of the local community.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.6884635,-8.3397841
Coordinates DMS: 39°41'18.5"N 08°20'23.2"W
Weather Portela de Nexebra
On-duty Pharmacy Portela de Nexebra
